National Depression Screening Day

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW), in support of National Depression Screening Day® (NDSD), encourages members to become involved by organizing screening sites in their communities. Initiated in 1991, NDSD is a free screening and educational event that will be held on Thursday, October 10, 2002, during Mental Illness Awareness Week. Originally designed to call attention to depression, the program has evolved into a screening program for a range of common, underdiagnosed and treatable disorders including major depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and suicidality.

In 1999 suicide prevention became a component with the creation of the SOS: Signs of Suicide materials for general audiences and high schools. Then in 2000 NDSD included specific questions on bipolar disorder, and last year the screening form included the Mood Disorder Questionnaire. This year NDSD expanded the screening form to include questions on generalized anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder. “Social workers can now participate in one program to address a range of disorders,” explains Douglas G. Jacobs, MD, NDSD founder and executive director. “We now have one simple screening form that effectively screens for a range of commonly underdiagnosed disorders and reflects current medical understanding that these illnesses and symptoms frequently occur concurrently.”

NASW members who are interested can obtain information about NDSD or download registration materials by visiting www.mentalhealthscreening.org/ndsd/nasw or by calling the NDSD office at 781-239-0071. Sites that register will receive a comprehensive set of materials including a Procedure Manual, the screening tools, and a Publicity Guide to help sites promote the event. NDSD charges a site registration fee to cover the costs of materials.

A steeply discounted Public Sector Kit is available to enable more hospitals and mental health facilities that cater to the low-income and uninsured populations to offer the screenings. The program also provides materials for professional education. The Health Professional Pocket Card series currently includes cards on suicide assessment and bipolar disorder assessment suitable for primary care and mental health professionals. The laminated cards are designed to fold and slip into a jacket or shirt pocket and highlight suicide and manic-depression assessment, documentation, and referral.

NASW members interested in volunteering individually to do screenings should find out whether their chapter is sponsoring a screening site or check with the local mental health association partners, who may be sponsoring screening sites.