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For Immediate Release
Contact: Katherine Cruise, (781) 239-0071 x119
Stressed, depressed, anxious?
If so, it could be affecting both you and your family
Learn how National Depression Screening Day can help
As a parent, it’s hard to figure out where to draw the line between your own
needs and those of your children. School, meals, sports, activities,
entertainment, homework – it is understandable, and even normal, for most
parents to feel stressed and overwhelmed by their daily routines. But if you
have been feeling sad or empty; lost pleasure in ordinary activities; have
difficulty concentrating; have had changes in your sleep or eating patterns;
feel guilty or helpless – and have been experiencing these symptoms for more
than two weeks – then you may be suffering from depression or a related mental
health disorder.
Recent studies have shed light on the difficulties faced by parents who are
depressed. The overwhelming opinion is that it is important for parents to take
the time to pay attention to their own emotions, for the good of themselves and
their families. Research indicates that when parents allow their depression to
go untreated, their children suffer as well.
At National Depression Screening Day, an event held on October 6 at
2,500 sites nationwide, you will have the opportunity to take a free,
anonymous self-test that addresses your concerns about depression and related
mood and anxiety disorders. By completing the brief questionnaire, you can
gauge the likelihood that you might be suffering from depression or a related
disorder, and have the opportunity to speak with a mental health professional
about what to do next.
National Depression Screening Day also provides resources specifically geared
toward parents who are concerned that they might be suffering from depression.
Learn the facts about parental depression:
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Depression most commonly affects people between the ages of 30 and 44 – in
other words, the age group most likely to have children.
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In general, married women experience more depression than single women do, and
depression is common among young mothers who stay at home full-time with small
children.1
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Depressed mothers are less likely to employ simple protection measures to
ensure their children’s safety, such as using car seats and electrical safety
outlets, and are less likely to read to their children, according to a survey
of 7500 mothers published in the journal Pediatrics.
“National Depression Screening Day offers strategies for overcoming the stress
and anxiety that’s practically a given in today’s emotionally draining world.
Whether the cause is world affairs, personal trauma or simply the day-to-day
grind, stress, depression and anxiety prevent millions of Americans from
enjoying their lives to the fullest,” says Douglas G. Jacobs, MD, executive
director of National Depression Screening Day and an associate clinical
professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.
Don’t let an undiagnosed mood or anxiety disorder get in the way of the rich
life you have built for yourself and your kids. You’ll find that taking a
minute to learn more about your feelings might be the first step toward feeling
a whole lot better.
Visit www.mentalhealthscreening.org(beginning
in August) to locate a site near you.
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1SAMHSA’s National Health Center,
http://www.mentalhealth.org/publications/allpubs/fastfact6/default.asp
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Screening for Mental Health, Inc.
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