National depression screening program

National Depression Screening Day takes place October 11, and initially began as an effort to help individuals across the nation by providing them with important mental health education and connecting them with support services. Depression is the second leading cause of mental health disorders and affects nearly 15 million adults in the United States each year and as many as one in 33 children and one in eight adolescents have clinical depression.

Depression is characterized by feelings of worthlessness, changes in appetite and sleep patterns, a loss of interest in activities and hobbies, a decrease in energy, difficulty concentrating, appearing agitated or lethargic and experiencing suicidal thoughts. In order to be formally diagnosed with depression, a majority of these symptoms must be present for at least a two-week duration and must impair daily functioning.

Children and the elderly are more likely to experience anger outbursts, behavioral problems and psychosomatic symptom such as aches and pains including headaches, digestion difficulties, and muscle cramps.

The most common types of depression include major depressive disorder, persistent depressive disorder, adjustment disorder with depressed mood, season affective disorder, and postpartum depression. Many individuals who may be suffering from depression have limited access to healthcare, are in denial of their signs or symptoms or are paralyzed by the stigma associated with depression and as a result do not seek help.

Primary care physicians have been trained to always screen for depression during every patient encounter. In doing so, it also elevates mental health to a higher priority in primary care. The American Academy of Pediatrics made a statement earlier this year advocating that every child, over the age of 12, should be screened for depression. This questionnaire targets signs and symptoms of depression and specifically inquires how often do individuals experience these symptoms over a two week period; not at all, several days, more than half the days or nearly everyday.

Unfortunately regular depression screening does not happen at every doctor-patient encounter and as a result it is important for individual to talk to their doctors or health care providers if they are experiencing signs and symptoms associated with depression. There are also many credible online resources, hotlines and community groups that provide information on depression and can help an individual receive the proper care. Depression in the U.

NCHS data brief, no 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. Only about a third Thursday, September 17, From late February through August, an additional 60, people screened at risk for psychosis over and above what would have been expected prior to the COVID pandemic.

Since March 1, , of those who screened for depression reported suicidal or self-harm thinking on more than half the days. In August , 41, depression screeners reported thinking of suicide or self-harm on more than half of days to nearly every day, with 24, reporting these thoughts nearly every day.