UW Health Psychiatrists Offer Free Depression Screenings
MADISON – Faculty and staff of the University of Wisconsin Department of Psychiatry will offer free screenings for depression on Oct. 8 at University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics.The team will have a table on the hospital's first floor in the H elevator lobby from 11am-2pm. The screening is part of National Depression Screening Day, which will screen more than 85,000 people at 3,000 sites nationwide.
"Depression affects 19 million Americans each year, and despite the fact that effective treatments exist, the majority of people don't get the help they need," said Dr. Ned Kalin, chairman of the psychiatry department. "Screenings are one way we can help people connect with effective treatment."
While more than 80 percent of all cases of clinical depression can be effectively treated with medication, psychotherapy or a combination of both, about two-thirds of those suffering from the illness do not seek the necessary treatment. Some signs of depression:
- 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
People who attend the screening will learn about depression, complete a written screening test, discuss the results with a mental health professional and, if necessary, learn where to go for additional help.
National Depression Screening Day is held during Mental Illness Awareness Week each October. It is designed to call attention to the illness of depression on a national level, educate the public about its symptoms and effective treatments, offer individuals the opportunity to be screened for depression, and connect those in need of treatment to the mental health care system.
Date Published: 10/01/2009
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