This year, I am happy to help promote National Depression Screening Day. Now in its 15th year, National Depression Screening Day (NDSD) is a program of the nonprofit organization Screening for Mental Health, Inc. The free program provides a non-threatening way for the public to be screened for depression and related illnesses such as bipolar disorder, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. I’m very pleased that this year, for the first time, they also will be screening for postpartum depression. Read here to learn more.

NDSD is designed to call attention to mood and anxiety disorders on a national level, to educate the public and clinicians about the symptoms and effective treatments, to offer individuals the free opportunity to be screened for the disorders, and to connect those in need of treatment to the mental health care system. Each fall, thousands of health care providers throughout the country conduct NDSD events that reach roughly 200,000 individuals with educational resources, and screen more than 100,000 people for mood and anxiety disorders. In addition, more than 350,000 mood and anxiety disorder screenings will be conducted this year through their year- round, interactive screening programs.

The event will be held on October 6th in various locations around the United States. To find a screening event near you, click here.

Link: [SMH e-news] When It’s More Than the "Baby Blues"; NDSD Celebrates 15 Years.