The economic downturn is not only depressing the economy, but also the public. According to the World Health Organization, depression is twice as common among the poor as among the rich, and recent U.S. census figures indicate that more than 26 million Americans are now living in poverty.
About half of American adults will develop a mental illness in their lifetime, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. To help combat this, organizations are encouraging participation in National Depression Screening Day—held Oct. 6—which serves as a "supportive community initiative to connect the public with mental health screenings."
"We know unemployment and financial problems can take a toll on an individual's mental health, which is why we're encouraging the public to take easy, anonymous screening to help those who may be struggling," says Douglas Jacobs, associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and the founder of Screening for Mental Health.
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Through this program, individuals can take a free, anonymous mental health screening online or locate an in-person screening site at www.HelpYourselfHelpOthers.org. Mental health screenings are an easy way for people to monitor their health and learn about local treatment options, Jacobs says.
Research supports the use of online mental health screenings as a means of helping individuals identify symptoms that may be consistent with a mental health disorder, and to seek treatment if needed. In an independent study commissioned by SMH, 55 percent of study participants who completed an online depression screening sought treatment within three months of completing the screening.
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