Don’t hesitate to be screened for depression
Depression is more than feeling sad or having a bad day. It can be a symptom of an undiagnosed mental illness or even a physical disorder. It’s important to take depression seriously because it can disrupt a person’s relationships with food, sleep, work, school and loved ones. And it can affect anyone, from young children to seniors.
October is National Depression and Mental Health Screening Month, a good time to understand what it means to be screened for depression or another emerging mental illness.
National Depression Screening Day falls on Oct. 5 this year. Its purpose is to:
• Increase awareness about depression and its symptoms
• Encourage individuals to get screened for depression
• Reduce the stigma associated with mental health conditions
• Provide access to resources and support for those who may be experiencing depression
What does a mental health screening look like?
It’s a standard set of questions that a person answers to help a health-care provider check for signs of a mental health disorder. They can be phrased differently for children, adolescents, adults and those with existing conditions, such as anxiety or ADHD, to make sure they understand, participate fully and answer honestly.
Doctors are very aware of the prevalence of depression, and most make depression screening part of a regular appointment. It’s required by Medicare because of the prevalence of depression among seniors, but it’s also particularly important for adolescents and young adults, as at least one in 10 have symptoms of depression. Many primary care practices have behavioral health specialists right there in the office, or access through their hospital network.
A lot of information can be gleaned from the screening. After a basic screening, if a mental health issue is suspected, you can be referred to a mental health provider or psychiatrist for therapy or further screening. Internal medicine physicians and psychiatrists can prescribe medications to treat depression, which are usually taken in conjunction with therapy. Dosages will be adjusted to a therapeutic level over time, but improvements can be seen in as little as three weeks.
An in-depth screening may last as long as four hours, which may be intolerable to someone already struggling with depression, anxiety or attention-deficit, so many practitioners will break the screening into multiple sessions. If you’re being screened and are starting to feel anxious or fatigued, ask for it to be continued at another time.
How can you tell if you, your child or your elderly parent is exhibiting symptoms of depression? Here are some of the telltale signs:
• Changes in eating habits (eating more or too little)
• Not being able to get out of bed
• Lack of motivation, feeling hopeless and/or helpless
• Problems focusing at work
• Academic, social or emotional issues at school
• In children, tantrums or frequent stomach aches and headaches with no known medical cause
Depression could arise for a variety of health reasons related to hormones, medications, or bacterial or viral infection. A physical exam should be part of a screening as well. Depression could also be associated with seasonal changes — October marks the start of autumn and holiday preparations.
As I mentioned earlier, depression could be a sign that a more serious mental illness is developing or already present, sometimes requiring immediate treatment. The screening will show your doctor if you are at risk of any of these diagnoses. These may include:
• Mood disorders: bipolar disorder, seasonal affective disorder (SAD), thoughts of self-harm.
• Anxiety disorders: panic disorder, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
• Eating disorders: anorexia, bulimia and other changes in food habits.
• Attention-deficit disorder.
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): Used to be thought of as affecting the military, but anyone can experience PTSD from trauma, even in home life.
• Psychotic disorders: schizophrenia, thought disorders.
• Substance use disorder: Unusual or excessive intake of any recreational drugs or prescription drugs that are being taken by someone else, or not as prescribed.
If you or someone is in crisis, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. You can also call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988; veterans can reach specialized help at 998, press 1, or text 838255.
Finding out if you or a loved one is at risk for a mental illness is the first step toward treatment and recovery. Screening is the way to make it happen.
• Bonnie Lane, M.S., is principal consultant with Family Support Services in Northbrook, specializing in supporting families whose loved ones suffer from severe mental illness or substance addiction. Daily Herald readers can contact her at (847) 651-1554 or bonnielane@thefamilysupportservices.com.