BIG SPRING – Free, confidential depression screenings will be held Tuesday, October 17 at Scenic Mountain Medical Center, 1601 W. 11th Place.
Screenings will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the hospital’s second floor in Room 215.
If area residents are unable to attend the screenings in person, they may call a special phone number on the day of the screening between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The number is 1-888-336-3362.
“The number will only be available while the screening is taking place,” West Texas Centers CEO Shelley Smith said. “We have hosted yearly depression screenings for nearly 25 years, and every year we evaluate what we offered the previous year and improve our free service. We always try to think of new ways to reach more people. We thought giving West Texans an option to call instead of coming to the physical screening would be helpful. We are hopeful that it will increase participation.”
West Texas Centers has partnered with Big Spring State Hospital since 2000 and added Scenic Mountain Medical Center, a Steward Family Hospital as a partner within the last few years.
“We believe this is a strong partnership in our community that we can offer to people who may feel uncomfortable speaking to their family physician about something so personal,” Smith said.
Upon arrival, fill out a short questionnaire which is reviewed by a mental health expert, West Texas Centers Public Information Officer Amy Vidal said. Following the review, the attendee will privately meet one-on-one with the mental health professional.
“The screenings are not a substitute for a diagnosis,” Vidal said. “The answers to the posed questions give the mental health experts a window into their lives at that moment in time.”
Many people suspect they may be living with depression but are unsure if it is true depression or a depressive episode, which can last two weeks. People experiencing a depressive episode may feel sad or irritable and may lose pleasure or interest in activities.
Most people with depression experience recurrent episodes throughout their lives.
People suffering from depression often experience some of these key symptoms, according to Mental Health America:
A persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood
Sleeping too little, early morning awakening, or sleeping too much
Reduced appetite and weight loss, or increased appetite and weight gain
Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed
Restlessness or irritability
Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
Fatigue or loss of energy
Thoughts of death or suicide
West Texas Centers operates a 24-hour mental health crisis hotline, 1-800-375-4357. The line is available for those who are in a crisis or need mental health services, Smith said.
West Texas Centers also offers Mental Health First Aid classes throughout the year. Please contact Ida Hambrick at Ida.Hambrick@wtcmhmr.org if you have any questions about the class, or logon to www.wtcmhmr.org to see a list of training dates.
For more information on the depression screenings or Mental Health First Aid, call Amy Vidal at (432) 264-3256 or amy.vidal@wtcmhmr.org.
(Photo: Unsplash)
Comments