BIG SPRING, TX – Free depression screenings will be offered Thursday, October 7, in Big Spring to people who believe they may be living with depression.
West Texas Centers, Big Spring State Hospital and Scenic Mountain Medical Center will offer the depression screenings from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Room 217 of Scenic Mountain Medical Center, 1601 W. 11th Place.
According to West Texas Centers CEO Shelley Smith, the screenings are confidential and open to anyone in the community.
“We have offered these free screenings to the public for more than 20 years,” Smith said. “West Texas Centers and Big Spring State Hospital have formed a great partnership, providing depression screenings in Howard County. We are proud to include Scenic Mountain Medical Center this year to give the public a more convenient place to conduct the confidential screenings.”
“Several hundred people have been assisted by the screenings since 2000,” Smith said.
The depression screenings are held on National Depression Screening Day, a day set aside to provide free screenings across the country to anyone who believes they may be living with depression but have not yet received a diagnosis.
Upon arrival, attendees will be provided with a brief questionnaire. Upon completion, the answers will be reviewed by a mental health professional and followed by a short consultation.
“Some people may be living with a bout of sadness, while others are living with depression,” Smith said. “Many of the people who come in for the screenings don’t know they are living with depression. We are able to identify what is occurring and point them toward local resources.”
Mental health professionals will not be providing a diagnosis but will give attendees feedback on their answers to the questionnaire and local resources if further evaluation is needed.
According to Mental Health America people living with depression often experience some of these key symptoms: 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 also offers a 24-hour Crisis Hotline for anyone who has questions or needs assistance. That number is 1-800-375-4357.
West Texas Centers is the mental health authority for 23 counties in West Texas serving people in Andrews, Borden, Crane, Dawson, Fisher, Gaines, Garza, Glasscock, Howard, Kent, Loving, Martin, Mitchell, Nolan, Reeves, Runnels, Scurry, Terrell, Terry, Upton, Ward, Winkler, and Yoakum counties.
Big Spring State Hospital is a state-owned and operated facility for people living with behavioral health issues.
For more information on the depression screening, call Amy Vidal at (432) 264-3256.
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