From large city hospitals, behavior health clinics, and social service agencies
in rural communities to older adult facilities and community-based groups like the
YMCA and Boys & Girls Clubs, there are many types of organizations that participate
in National Depression Screening Day® (NDSD).
“Many people that attended cited this [NDSD event] as their first contact with a
mental health professional. The event served as a portal to the many services at
the hospital,” says Milica Ramirez, NDSD 2009 site coordinator at Bellevue Hospital
in New York City.
“It went very well. We had a great location in a high-traffic area. The materials
were highly effective as individuals exiting the train would take one, and if they
worked in the building or nearby would sometimes come back on their lunch break
to take a screening or check out materials. We identified 2 of the 67 individuals
with current, active suicide ideation,” says Ariel Mindell, NDSD 2009 site coordinator
of Mental Health America, Illinois.
As educators, counselors, advocates, and clinicians, you know firsthand that mental
illness cuts across all lines and affects one in every six adults. Yet because of
stigma and other factors, fewer than half of those suffering actually seek treatment,
even though treatment is often successful.
We invite you to join thousands of organizations nationwide in raising awareness
and combating stigma around mood and anxiety disorders by registering to host NDSD
in your community. Since 1991, more than a million people have been screened and
helped because of NDSD.
Now, there is new research that supports the use of confidential depression screenings.
Results from a 2009 independent study, conducted by the University of Connecticut
and commissioned by Screening for Mental Health found that confidential screenings,
which are highly accessible and non-threatening to users—do help get people into
treatment. The study showed that 55% of participants who completed a depression
screening online sought treatment within three months of the screening.
For more information call Molly Foulds at 781-591-5240 or email at MFoulds@mentalhealthscreening.org.