Lack of energy. Sadness. Weight changes or sleeplessness. Loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy. There are many signs of clinical depression that often get overlooked or dismissed as something that will simply pass with time.
Most Americans don’t realize they’re suffering depression or they suffer in silence out of fear of being stigmatized.
October 4-10 is Check Your Mood Week and the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency, Community Health Improvement Partners and community partners are offering free depression screenings and information at 25 locations around the county
Screenings are the quickest and easiest way to spot the first signs of what could become a serious mental illness.
“Depression is more common than most people realize,” said Alfredo Aguirre, HHSA’s Behavioral Health Services director. “As part of Live Well San Diego we are encouraging people to ‘check your mood’ and get routinely screened for depression just as they get screened for heart disease and high blood pressure.”
One in four adults and one in five children in San Diego County suffer from a mental disorder or difficulty in any given year and depression is the most common. More than 19 million Americans suffer clinical depression every year.
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Adults 18 and over will be able to complete a Check Your Mood screening form and receive referrals to resources as needed. Informational materials will be available at all locations.
Last year, about 27 agencies helped sponsor 53 screening events around the county at sites such as senior homes, community clinics and service agencies, hospitals, health fairs, and County Family Resource Centers. There were 1,404 individuals screened, with hundreds more receiving information. Three individuals were referred to emergency mental health services.
In addition to the week of screenings, the County’s multilingual Access and Crisis Line (888-724-7240) continues to be available seven days a week, 24 hours a day with access to County behavioral health services all year long.
Complete Check Your Mood Week information, including the list of screening sites and participating agencies, can be found on the CHIP website or by calling the Access and Crisis Line. Resources and more information on depression can be found at www.up2sd.org.
