Get Screened for Depression

Health screenings are a way to detect the early signs of serious illnesses, such as heart disease, diabetes or high blood pressure. Just as screenings for physical ailments are a part of your health care routine, mental health screenings should be, as well.

Depression screenings are a vital tool for early detection and intervention. They provide valuable insights into an individual's mental health, helping to identify those at risk of depression.

Why screen for depression?

• Clinical depression is a serious illness
• Early detection of depression improves your treatment outcomes
• Some people believe their symptoms are a “normal part of life”
• Depression can co-occur and complicate other medical conditions

Who should get screened?

Depression often goes undiagnosed and untreated, but a depression assessment can clarify your mental health status and help manage symptoms.

Depression screenings are especially recommended for individuals who:

• Feel persistently sad, hopeless or empty for an extended period
• Lose interest or pleasure in activities they once enjoyed
• Notice significant changes in appetite or weight
• Struggle with insomnia or excessive sleepiness
• Feel fatigued or lacking energy regularly
• Have difficulty concentrating, making decisions or remembering things
• Have recurring thoughts of death or suicide
• Engage in self-destructive behaviors, such as substance abuse
• Have a family history of depression or other mental health disorders
• Have recently experienced traumatic events or significant life stressors

If these symptoms resonate with you, consider taking an anonymous and confidential depression screening test. You can find an online depression screening test here.

For additional mental health screenings, click here.

When to seek professional help

Self-help strategies can manage mild depression, such as regular exercise, relaxation techniques, a healthy diet, adequate sleep and support from friends and family. However, self-help may not be sufficient if symptoms persist for more than two weeks, worsen, or significantly interfere with daily life.

In such cases, seek professional help. A mental health professional can provide a diagnosis and develop a tailored treatment plan. Firelands Counseling & Recovery Services is here for you. Call the Firelands Hope Line at 1-567-867-HOPE (4673) to schedule an appointment.

If you are feeling suicidal or are thinking about engaging in self-harm, please reach out for immediate help by calling our Hope Line (available between 8.a.m.-midnight) or contact 988, which is available 24/7. You may also text “HOME” to 741741.

Services provided at Firelands Counseling & Recovery Services are funded in part by:

• Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board of Erie County;
• Mental Health and Recovery Services Board of Seneca, Ottawa, Sandusky and Wyandot Counties; and
• The Huron County Board of Mental Health & Addiction Services

Resources

https://www.mhanational.org/national-depression-screening-day