National Depression Screening Day held at Red Lake Hospital

By Michael Barrett

Red Lake Net News

      National Depression Screening Day (NDSD) was on October 9, 2003, and at Red Lake Hospital, the Mental Health/Social Services Department offered this service to anyone wishing to participate.

      As part of Mental Illness Awareness Week, the community-based mental health screening has been offered across the country since 1991. This was Red Lake’s first time participating in it, and they set up in the entrance lobby of the hospital.

      The goals of NDSD are to call attention to the prevalence of mental health disorders in society, educate people about the signs and symptoms–as well as the availability of effective treatments for mental health disorders, and connect those in need to the mental health care system.

      Public education and the feedback that one received after completing their screening was informational only. A screening score indicated whether a response to the questionnaire were consistent with symptoms of any of the disorders–depression, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder or post traumatic stress disorder.

      Based on the results, one of Red Lake’s mental health professionals would make recommendations of further steps for a person to consider.

      There are three most common types of depression disorders, according to a booklet “Men and Depression” by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services which was available as a handout. They were, major depression disorder, dysthymic disorder which was a lesser form than major depression disorder, and manic-depressive illness.

      Some symptoms of depression include: persistent sad, anxious or ‘empty’ mood; feelings of hopelessness; feelings of guilt, worthlessness and helplessness; loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed, including sex; decreased energy, fatigue, being ‘slowed down’; trouble sleeping, early-mornng awakening or oversleeping; appetite and/or weight changes, thoughts of death or suicide or suicide attempts; restlessness and irritability; and persistent physical symptoms such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain.

      Depression can strike anyone, but people with diabetes–a serious disorder that afflicts an estimated 16 million Americans–may be at greater risk, said another booklet called ‘Depression and Diabetes.’ In addition, individuals with depression may be at greater risk for developing diabetes. Treatment for depression helps people manage symptoms of both diseases, thus improving the quality of their lives.

      Conducted anonymously, Red Lake’s NDSD program included a written screening form to fill out, a variety of educational resources to take home, a five to ten minute confidential interview to discuss the results of the screening, and a list of local referral resources would be available if they were needed.

      Staff members were also on hand to answer questions anyone had.

      The basic objective of the Mental Health/Social Services Department in Red Lake is for IHS/CHS to work cooperatively in order to enhance the total health care of Native American people by providing the types of mental health and social services to both outpatient and inpatient clients best suited to meet their specific needs.

      Services include crisis and short-term individual family and group counseling, psychological evaluations, child sexual abuse, child physical abuse, and child neglect assessments. They also provide employee assistance counseling. Other services include in-service and staff development training, psychiatric and psychological consultation to health and community staff, community development, treatment monitoring and planning for involuntarily committed persons, as well as onsite counseling to high school, middle school and elementary and headstart aged children.

      Staff members of the Mental Health/Social Services Department include John Dick, Pete Mitby, Fred Desjarlait, Jenny Hollis, Alice Benaise, Jennifer Djonne, and Rena Parisien.