Do you sleep all the time or never sleep at all?
Have you been eating more for comfort or barely eating?
Are you angry, sad, or just don’t care about what happens anymore?
If so, you may be joining the 17 million Americans who are currently diagnosed with some level of clinical depression.
On Monday, June 23, Julie Latham, intake and assessment coordinator of J. C. Blair’s Behavioral Health Services, has scheduled free and confidential depression screenings at the Medicine Shoppe at 730 Washington Street in Huntingdon from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and again from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. to help individuals seek treatment for this growing problem.
According to Latham, depression in the United States is on the rise. In Huntingdon County alone there is high unemployment and transportation issues, which prevents people to socialize with each other. Because of these issues, there is a risk for depression in the area.
Latham said with these screenings hopefully the stigma that comes along with depression will be reduced, and more people will begin to seek treatment.
She said the elderly are at a high risk for suicide and depression and are less likely to seek treatment than younger generations.
In adults, women are more likely than men to be depressed, especially those women who are in caregiving roles such as: Raising children, taking care of elderly parents or nursing. These roles tend to produce stress, which can lead to depression.
Latham said depression screenings have been offered in the past at the BiLo in Huntingdon and another at Adelphia Cable in Huntingdon. The screening that is scheduled for the Medicine Shoppe should have a strong turn-out because it has a private area for individuals to sit and talk with Latham during the process.
A candidate for the screening would be someone that has any kind of disturbance in behavior, such as too much or not enough sleep or food or a persistent change of mood that lasts for at least two weeks, including: anger, sadness or no feelings at all.
During the screening, Latham will look at each individual case to see what services, counseling, support groups, or other type of referral that she will give. Latham said the most important aspect of the treatment process is that individuals know that they belong and that others care about them.
For more information, contact J.C. Blair’s Behavioral Health Services at 643-8880 or the Medicine Shoppe at 641-7442.
