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National Depression Screening Day needed more now than ever
Today marks National Depression Screening Day and, according to Screening for Mental Health, Inc., Americans are more in need of this service now than ever before.
The survey’s findings report that, compared to a 2005 survey:
• There are 14% more people being treated for depression;
• 49% more people going through a divorce or separation are depressed; and
• Men have a 34% increase in depression, while women have an 18% increase in PTSD symptoms.
Even more shocking, there’s been a 76% increase in the number of employees being treated for general anxiety disorder in the workplace (see www.MentalHealthScreening.org).
In a work environment like behavioral health—where employees have high-stress responsibilities and are working under the threat of budget cuts—it seems natural to screen for depression and anxiety regularly.
Is this something you’ve considered offering at your organization, if only on today’s holiday? And what are you doing to increase access to depression screening in your communities today?
For more on screening for depression, check out the video of Dr. Douglas G. Jacobs, MD, associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and the founder of Screening for Mental Health.
