National Depression Screening Day

October 6 is National Depression Screening Day.

One of the quickest ways to spot the first signs of serious illness is with screenings. Whether it's screening for high blood pressure, diabetes or depression, health screenings provide a quick way to spot the first signs of serious illness.

‍Why Screen For Depression?

• Clinical depression is a serious medical illness.
• Clinical depression can lead to suicide.
• Sometimes people with depression mistakenly believe that the symptoms of depression are a "normal part of life."
• Clinical depression affects men and women of all ages, races, and socioeconomic groups.
• Only about a third (35.3%) of those suffering from severe depression seek treatment from a mental health professional. 
• Depression can co-occur and complicate other medical conditions.
• Screenings are often the first step in getting help.

Who Should Get Screened?

‍Anyone suffering from...

• A persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood
• Sleeping too little, early morning awakening, or sleeping too much
• Reduced appetite and weight loss, or increased appetite and weight gain
• Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed
• Restlessness or irritability
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
• Fatigue or loss of energy
• Thoughts of death or suicide

According tosuicide.org,about 20 percent of all teens experience depression before they reach adulthood, but only about 30 percent of teens are being treated for their symptoms.

Here at Southwest Community Health Systems, we screen each patient for depression when they first arrive through our doors. Mental health screenings are designed to determine who should be referred for mental health management, accordingto the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

We use the Patient Health Questionaire-9, or PHQ-9, to screen each patient. The PHQ-9 is a self-administered, multipurpose instrument for screening, diagnosing, monitoring, and measuring the severity of depression and other mental health illnesses. Patients experiencing five or more of the symptoms for longer than two weeks will receive a referral to one of our behavioral health therapists. Our patients will receive a detailed, personalized plan after their first meeting with someone in our behavioral health department.

Once receiving treatment for depression, patients may experience diminished symptoms and improved moods due to effectiveantidepressant medicationsor coping mechanisms.

Clinical depression is a treatable condition that can impact many aspects of a person's life. If you or a loved one is struggling, please schedule your appointment with us today!