Free depression screenings available in person and online

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(Editor’s note: The location of the free screenings at the U-M Depression Center has changed since this story first appeared online.)

Clinical depression is a medical illness affecting more than 19 million American adults each year. Like screenings for physical illnesses, screenings for mental and emotional health are important for overall wellness. 

In support of National Depression Screening Day on Oct. 10, several U-M programs are offering faculty, staff, students and the community free, in-person and online mental health screenings for depression.

Screenings are a good way to find out if depression is causing prolonged sadness, anxiety, irritability, loss of pleasure, hopelessness and worthlessness, and even physical pain.

In-person screenings 

Free, one-on-one confidential screenings with a trained mental health professional will be available Oct. 10 for depression and other conditions at the following locations:

• U-M Depression Center, East Room of Pierpont Commons, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (open to the public, no university affiliation needed).

• Michigan Medicine Office of Counseling and Workplace Resilience, Room 5124 (fifth floor) Medical Science Unit I, C-wing, 8-10 a.m. and 1-4 p.m. (for Michigan Medicine faculty, staff, and immediate family members).

• U-M Faculty and Staff Counseling and Consultation Office, 1009 Greene St., Room 2076, Administrative Services Building, 12:30-3:30 p.m. (for campus faculty, staff and their immediate family members).

Feedback provided after a screening is informational, not diagnostic. Based on screening results, the mental health professional may recommend a more comprehensive evaluation.

Online screenings and resources

Free, online mental health screenings are available at any time for depression and other conditions, including bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, alcohol misuse, eating disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Participants will receive an immediate result at the end of each screening to print and take to a counselor for further evaluation if necessary.

For faculty and staff, MHealthy offers confidential, anonymous online mental health screenings at screening.mentalhealthscreening.org/UMICHIGAN.

For students, Counseling and Psychological Services offers confidential, anonymous online mental health screenings on the CAPS website at screening.mentalhealthscreening.org/goblue.

For the general public, the U-M Psychological Clinic offers confidential, anonymous online mental health screenings on its website at psychclinic.org.

The U-M Depression Center also offers an online toolkit that provides information, tools, support and resources to guide individuals through their mental health journey. It also offers help to family members and caregivers of those who suffer from mood disorders, and all people who wish to better understand depression and bipolar disorder.

Counseling services

Confidential short-term counseling is always available to university faculty, staff and students at no charge:

• Ann Arbor and Flint campus employees, contact FASCCO at 734-936-8660 or fascco@umich.edu, or visit myumi.ch/aMm4X.

• Dearborn campus employees, call 313-593-5430.

• Michigan Medicine employees, contact the Office of Counseling and Workplace Resilience at 734-763-5409 or counseling@med.umich.edu, or visit myumi.ch/L1j19.

• Students, contact CAPS at 734-764-8312 or visit caps.umich.edu.

• For the general public, the U-M Psychological Clinic offers outpatient mental health services for adults and couples 18 and over. It is a fee-for-service clinic that accepts some insurance plans. University affiliation is not required. Call 734-764-3471 or visit mari.umich.edu/psych-clinic.

All U-M health plans cover mental and behavioral health services like counseling, therapy and substance abuse treatment.

For specific information on benefits, U-M Premier Care and GradCare members should call the mental health and substance abuse phone number on the back of their insurance card. Members of the Community Blue PPO or Comprehensive Major Medical plans should call BCBSM customer service.

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