October 7th is National Depression Screening Day. Major depression affects around 6.7% of American adults each year, yet only about 1/3 of those receive treatment from a mental health professional.*
On National Depression Screening Day (and anytime!), we can encourage people who may be depressed to do a simple online screening. While not a diagnostic tool, a screening can provide valuable information and move someone toward treatment. A couple of things to know about depression:
Depression doesn’t always look the same
What do you think of when you think of someone who is depressed? Maybe that they can’t get out of bed? That’s certainly one symptom of depression, but someone who is depressed may also be restless and sleeping less. They may have difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions. Learn the symptoms of depression.
Being depressed isn’t the same as being sad.
We all have difficult life experiences. Experiencing sadness – even extreme sadness – is a natural reaction to such events. When someone is sad, reaching out to family and friends for support and encouragement can help. But if sadness is interfering with daily life, it may be depression. Pointing someone toward online screening may help them determine what they are experiencing.
