According

to the National Institute of Mental Health, depression

strikes more than 17 million Americans each year.

Only one of

every four individuals with depression actually seek

treatment, even though treatment can heal over 80 percent

of those affected. Oct. 7, 28 metropolitan Atlanta sites

will offer a free, confidential screening for clinical

depression by mental health professionals.

Warning

signs of depression include feelings of guilt, sadness or

irritabilty, loss of appetite, loss of interest or

pleasure in activities, fatigue or loss of energy,

restlessness, and thoughts of death and suicide.

Participants

at the depression screening will hear a brief talk on

causes, symptoms and the treatments of depression

followed by a short video. Individuals will complete an

anonymous self inventory of depression symptoms and have

the opportunity to discuss the results with a mental

health professional. The screenings will be conducted on

a walk-in basis and resource information will be

available.

National

Depression Screening Day is sponsored by the American

Psychiatric Association, the National Institute of Mental

Health and the Depressive and Manic Depressive

Association, among others.

"This

metropolitan wide effort to provide mental health

screening for depression will educate the public about

signs and symptoms of depression and encourage those who

may be vulnerable to seek evaluation and treatment,"

said Cynthia Wainscott, executive director, National

Mental Health Association of Georgia.

Based on

national statistics, nearly 400,000 metro Atlanta

residents are at risk for depression each year. With the

28 metro locations some 10,000 individuals can be

screened for depression. The screening is part of the

ninth annual National Depression Screening Day program.

The closest

sites to Fayette County will be at Riverwoods at Southern

Regional in Riverdale and Kaiser Permanente's Southwood

Medical Facility in Jonesboro. Call 1-800-573-4433 to

find the location nearest you.

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