By: Kathryn M. Quirk, M. Ed
Manager, CommunityResponse® and WorkplaceResponse
“Your location [for NDSD] is critical. Pick a place that’s public and accessible,” says Mary McParlane, Director of Community Outreach and Consumer at Mental Health America of Erie County, who is in the midst of planning her 21st annual screening event. McParlane has participated in every NDSD since its creation in 1991.
From churches and local hospitals, McParlane has hosted the annual mental health screening event in many locations, but admits that hosting NDSD in a mall is a great place. “You reach a wide variety of people and the atmosphere is relaxed and friendly,” says McParlane.
Working each year with a small but dedicated team of volunteers, Mary and her partner in the screening for more than 20 years, Dr. Josie Olympia, recruit volunteers each year from the University of Buffalo, Department of Psychiatry, along with the Western New York Psychiatric Society. NDSD is one of the most anticipated programs of the year at the MHA of Erie County. Together they blend their efforts in hopes for a successful event.
We recently had a chance to talk to Mary McParlane, who just wrapped up her NDSD event.
From the very first year McParlane organized an NDSD event with MHA of Erie County and in the 20 consecutive years since then, she says she never tires of the work.
“I focus on knowing that if I help just one person, then I’ve done my job.”
Overall, more than 300 screenings are completed each year. The screenings, which MHA offers both online through their website as well through the in-person event, provide a snapshot of the mental health needs in the community.
McParlane speaks very highly of the community downloadable kit and the resources available to help market the event. She admits though that she often adds a touch of her own creativity. Like last year, she created table-tents for the food court eating area. She personalized the flyers by listing her name and contact information, saying, “I want people to have an opportunity to follow up with someone personally and ask questions,” says McParlane.
McParlane says that while budgets have been cut, she says that no matter what, she will continue to host NDSD and offer the year-round online screening. “It’s a community service that is not only important, it’s necessary. “ She adds, “There’s so much stigma associated with mental health that we need to be out there in a variety of ways connecting with people,” says McParlane.
Admittedly, McParlane relies on a grassroots network of people to help spread the word about the in-person screening event and the online screening tool. For the event, she highlights the importance of offering some kind of giveaway, from food to mugs to baskets filled with apples. “We focus on making our table approachable, putting out materials and offering a treat of some kind, and in turn we hope they will see us as friendly and approachable,” says McParlane.
Ultimately, through a combination of sweat equity, publicity and a network of caring individuals and businesses, “we get the word out there and people show up year after year,” says McParlane.
She still remembers the very first year they hosted NDSD at a local hospital. It was the end of the day and these two older women walked up to the table and one of them took the screening.
“She was a senior citizen and she scored very high for [symptoms of] depression. We talked and got her into to see someone right away,” says McParlane. “I know for a fact a life was saved that day and that makes it all worth it.”
The Online Depression Screening tool is available year-round and just like MHA of Erie County, organizations that subscribe to the online screening tool get access to the Downloadable Kit where they can print screening forms, educational information and promotional materials.