ANN ARBOR, MI - On Oct. 9, the University of Michigan Depression Center will join the U-M’s managed care program M-CARE, and the Michigan Center for Diagnosis and Referral to offer free, confidential mental health screenings to all interested members of the community.

The event, which is part of National Depression Screening Day, will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. at 2101 Commonwealth Ave, Suite C, located off Plymouth Rd. in Ann Arbor.

Attendees of the Screening Day will have the opportunity to hear an educational presentation from a physician, ask the physician questions, complete a written screening test, and talk privately with a mental health professional. Those who may need additional medical assistance will be given a list of local referrals to health care providers. In addition, the participants will learn more about the Depression Center and its efforts to improve the care for depression.

The Screening Day is a free service, and refreshments will be provided. No appointment is necessary to attend. The educational presentation will be at 4 p.m. Following the presentation, 30-minute confidential screenings will be offered from 4:30 to 7 p.m., at no cost to attendees.

" Depression is a very treatable illness. But you have to recognize it before you can treat it. Screening is that first step on the road to wellness," says John Greden, M.D., executive director of the U-M Depression Center.

Individuals with depression often feel alone, not realizing that depression is a wide-spread disease that affects many people. Most people also do not understand whom the disease affects, how it presents itself, why, or when. Due to these and other factors, fewer than half of those suffering from depressive disorders receive the treatment that they so desperately need.

Common symptoms of depression include a feeling of sadness, loss of pleasure in usual activities, feelings of hopelessness, helplessness and worthlessness, changes in sleep patterns and appetite, loss of energy, restlessness, and thoughts of death or suicide. In addition, depression often presents itself in the form of physical symptoms, such as headaches, back problems and digestive problems.

For more information about National Depression Screening Day or other events sponsored by the Depression Center, call (734) 763-7495 or visit www.depressioncenter.org.

The U-M Depression Center is composed of a collaborative network of University of Michigan programs and faculty. The Center's mission is to develop, disseminate, and advance state-of-the-art science, education, treatment and prevention strategies for Clinical Depression. The ultimate goal of the Center is to pioneer a new era in depression care, characterized by a focus on prevention, an emphasis on earlier detection and true remission, the abolishment of stigma, and an informed and empowered public.

Written by: Sara Newlin

E-mail this information to a friend

Recent Press Releases