Hillcrest offers free screening for depression in October

October is Mental Health Awareness Month. Kristin Helm, LISW, director of SE Mental Health Centers, indicates that Hillcrest offers free screenings during the month of October. These screening are available at the Hillcrest Community Mental Health Center at 2175 Lexington Blvd, Building No. 2 in Washington. One might ask why screen for depression. Helm indicates that two-thirds of those suffering from the illness do not seek the necessary treatment and many diagnosed with depression can co-occur and complicate other medical conditions.

Depression is more common than AIDS, cancer and diabetes combined, and nearly 400,000 people attempt suicide in the United States every year. But even though it's a common and serious problem, many people don't know that much about depression and suicide ? including who is at the greatest risk, why and when they are most likely to be vulnerable.

Depression may be described as feeling sad, blue, unhappy, miserable, or down in the dumps. Most people feel this way at one time or another for short periods. Individuals who have depression, often have feelings of helplessness and hopelessness, have a loss of interest in daily activities, have poor appetite or weight changes, changes in their sleep, are often angry and/or irritable, have a loss of energy, and can display reckless behavior.

To learn more about this screening, please call 319-653-6161.