More than 20 million people in the United States — approximately one in 15 — suffer from depression, according to the National Library of Medicine.
Oct. 7 is National Depression Screening Day and, in support, several U-M programs will offer free, in-person, one-on-one mental health screenings for depression.
“We’re fortunate that programs exist to help us recognize and cope with how life’s stressors and events may be affecting our mental and emotional well-being,” says Kathleen Robertson, manager of the U-M Health System Employee Assistance Program (EAP). “Screenings for mental health are as important as screenings for heart disease and diabetes and should be a routine part of our health care.”
In-person depression screenings will be held Oct. 7 at the following locations:
• U-M Psychological Clinic, 530 Church St., Suite 2463, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Washtenaw Community College, 4800 E. Huron River Dr., Lawrence Morris Building, 9 a.m.-noon (offered by U-M Psychological Clinic)
• AnnArbor.com, 301 E. Liberty, first floor, 1-5 p.m. (offered by U-M Psychological Clinic)
• Rackham Graduate School, 915 E. Washington St., second floor, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. (offered by U-M Depression Center)
• UMHS EAP, D2101 Med Professional Building, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FASAP), 1009 Greene St., 2076 Administrative Services Building, 10 a.m.-noon (employees and immediate family members only)
For those who cannot attend an in-person screening, online mental health screenings also are available for depression and other common mental health conditions, including bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, alcohol misuse, eating disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder.
For faculty and staff, MHealthy offers confidential, anonymous online mental health screenings at www.mhealthy.umich.edu/understandingu/screen/index.html. Participants will receive an immediate result at the end of each screening that can be printed and taken to a counselor for further evaluation if necessary. For students, Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) offers a 24/7 online screening tool at www.mentalhealthscreening.org/screening/Welcome.aspx.
Short-term counseling for university faculty and staff always is available. Campus and UM-Flint employees can contact FASAP at 734-936-8660 or e-mail [email protected]. UMHS employees can contact EAP at 734-763-5409 or e-mail [email protected]. UM-Dearborn employees can call 313-593-5430.
MHealthy also invites the university community to attend the Fifth Annual Symposium on Mental Health in the Workplace on Oct. 6. This year’s topic is “Reasonable Accommodations: What You Should Know,” a presentation covering the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments. Through the use of case studies and an open-discussion format, it will provide practical guidance for faculty, staff, managers and human resource professionals regarding reasonable accommodations for hidden disabilities like ADHD, anxiety or depression.
This event is free and will be at Palmer Commons, Great Lakes Room, from 10-11:30 a.m. For more information, go to www.ability.umich.edu.
