National Depression screening day

University Health and Psychological Services will offer an opportunity to learn how to recognize the signs of depression and participation in a free screening as part of the National Depression Screening Day on Oct. 7.

This free program will be held at University Health & Psychological Services Center Area E from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. It will be open to students, faculty and staff, as well as to the general public.

Participants will view a short video about the causes, symptoms and treatments of depression. They will also complete an anonymous depression checklist and have a brief, individual review of the checklist with a counselor. This meeting will be confidential. As in other health screenings, the focus is on education and symptom detection.

More than 19 million Americans suffer from clinical depression annually. The majority of depressed people do not receive treatment because their symptoms are not recognized, are blamed on personal weakness or are so disabling that they cannot go for help.

The good news is that more than 80 percent of those suffering from depression can be treated successfully. If depression is recognized and treated with psychotherapy an/or medication, most people will resume their normal functioning level within a relatively short period of time.

Common symptoms of depression are: feelings of sadness or irritability; changes in appetite or weight; trouble with sleep; inability to concentrate, remember things or make decisions; inability to enjoy usual activities; feeling guilty, hopeless or worthless; feelings of fatigue or loss of energy; low self-esteem; restlessness or decreased activity noticed by experience all of these symptoms.

Call 8-6764 for additional information.