Tough economic times, war, political unrest, threats of terrorism and other highly stressful circumstances can contribute to depression and anxiety, mental health experts say.
According to the 2008 Stress in America survey released Tuesday by the American Psychological Association, eight of 10 Americans say the economy is a major source of stress, which can also lead to depression, suicide, heart disease, stroke, a weakened immune system and certain kinds of cancer.
Erica Kramer, a mental health specialist with Pathways, an outpatient treatment center of Schuylkill Health, said now more than ever, people need to be aware of the symptoms of depression and take action if they or someone they care about is suffering from it.
"During times like these, it's normal to feel emotions of sadness, yet still go on in life," Kramer said. "But when someone is suffering from clinical depression, a physical illness, it can be escalated by these everyday things in life that cause us stress. Depression is a normal human emotion. So is anxiety."
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 18.8 million American adults suffer from a depressive illness each year.
On Friday, Schuylkill Health will offer screenings to the community as part of National Depression Screening Day. Across the country, more than 7,000 free, anonymous screenings will be given at colleges, hospitals, health clinics and community service organizations.
Locally, a screening will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Pathways, the hospital's outpatient treatment center, at 312 Mauch Chunk St. The screenings are free and open to the public by appointment or on a walk-in basis.
Created in 1991 by the Screening for Mental Health Inc., National Depression Screening Day is a community-based effort to screen the public for depression or related illnesses such as bipolar, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorders.
Participants will fill out a questionnaire and have the chance to meet with a mental health professional and receive information about treatment and resources in the community where they can get help, Kramer said.
"We can help steer them in the right direction," she said. To see more of the Republican & Herald or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.republicanherald.com. Copyright (c) 2008, Republican & Herald, Pottsville, Pa. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
Copyright (C) 2008, Republican & Herald, Pottsville, Pa.