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With some questionable health advice being posted by your friends on Facebook, politicians arguing about the state of the American healthcare system and a new medical study being summarized in just a sentence or two on TV---that seems to contradict the study you heard summarized yesterday---it can be overwhelming to navigate the ever-changing landscape of health news.

To Your Health: Depression Screening Day

W.H.O.

Mental Health America states, “Whether for heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, or depression - health screenings provide a quick and easy way to spot the first signs of serious illness and can reach people who might not otherwise seek professional medical advice. Clinical depression is a common medical illness. Like screenings for other illnesses, depression screenings should be a routine part of healthcare.”

Today is Depression Screening Day.
 
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,  about 1 out of every 6 adults will have depression at some time in their life. Depression affects about 16 million American adults every year. Anyone can get depressed, and depression can happen at any age and in any type of person. While the exact cause of depression is unknown, it may be a combination of genetic, biological, environmental and/or psychological factors. As the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression has stated, “Depression is a flaw in brain chemistry, not in character.”

If you are feeling overwhelmed, depressed, or unable to do the things you once enjoyed, it may be time to assess your emotional health. If you are concerned about yourself or someone you love, take a few minutes to complete an anonymous self-assessment at mhascreening.org or helpyourselfhelpothers.org.

 

Resources:
http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/conditions/take-depression-screening
https://mentalhealthscreening.org/
http://helpyourselfhelpothers.org/
https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/diseases/depression-anxiety.html

 

Dr. Brooke Hildebrand Clubbs is an assistant professor in the Department of Leadership, Middle & Secondary Education. She writes for special publications of The Southeast Missourian and is a certified Community Health Worker.
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