Aultman Holds Depression Screening Day on Oct. 8
Feeling sad, stressed or anxious? Normal reaction to life events or something more?
CANTON, Ohio (Sept. 30, 2009) – With layoffs and unemployment rates making headlines almost everyday, it is common and understandable to feel anxious about your economic future. In fact, research indicates that more people are seeking mental health services as a result of the recession.
According to a survey of 3,307 adults, demand for psychiatric and mental health services nearly doubled in the first quarter of this year—from 4 percent in January to 7 percent in April.
Negative feelings are normal, appropriate, and even necessary during life’s difficult moments, but when worry, anger, or stress prevent you from performing your daily activities or interacting with friends and loved ones, it might be time to seek help.
If you can’t remember the last time you felt optimistic or hopeful, take advantage of Aultman’s National Depression Screening Day event on Oct. 8, 4-8 p.m., in the Aultman North Community Conference Room. Registration is encouraged; call 330-363-5238.
Attendees will complete a brief, written questionnaire; learn about the symptoms of depression; how to help a friend or family member who may be at risk, and learn about many community resources.
Health care professionals will be available to discuss any concerns and answer questions, including Clinical Nurse Specialist Perri Concialdi, RN, who will give a presentation from 6-7 p.m.
- Some facts about depression:
Depressive disorders affect approximately 18.8 million American adults or about 9.5 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year.
- Trauma, loss of a loved one, a difficult relationship, or any stressful situation may trigger a depressive episode. Subsequent depressive episodes may occur with or without an obvious trigger.
More than 80 percent of people with clinical depression can be successfully treated. With early recognition, intervention, and support, most employees can overcome clinical depression and become productive and full-functioning employees again.
Depressive disorders cost employers more than $51 billion per year in absenteeism and lost productivity, not including high medical and pharmaceutical bills.
For more information on Aultman’s screening event or programming, leave a confidential voice-mail message at 330-363-5238.
About Aultman Mental Health Services
Aultman Hospital offers two short-term, intensive daily programs: Partial Hospitalization and Intensive Outpatient. This programming provides crisis stabilization to prevent inpatient psychiatric hospitalization or to assist with the transition from acute inpatient care to community life.
About Aultman
The Aultman Health Foundation is a not-for-profit health-care organization serving Stark and surrounding counties. The vertically integrated institution includes Aultman Hospital, the locally managed health-insurance provider AultCare and the Aultman College of Nursing and Health Sciences. With 682 beds, 530 active physicians and a staff of more than 5,000 employees, Aultman is Stark County’s largest hospital and second-largest employer. For more information, visit www.aultman.org.
Media Contact
Leslee Dennis, Aultman Communications
330-363-5319, ldennis@aultman.com
