Free screenings available for National Depression Screening Day

Clinical depression is a medical illness affecting more than 19 million American adults each year. Like screenings for physical illnesses, screenings for mental and emotional health are important for overall wellness.

In support of National Depression Screening Day, set for Thursday, Oct. 11, several U-M programs are offering faculty, staff, students and the community free in-person and online mental health screenings for depression.

Screenings are a good way to find out if depression might be the cause of feelings like prolonged sadness, anxiety, irritability, loss of pleasure, hopelessness and worthlessness, and even physical pain.

In-person screenings: Free one-on-one confidential screenings with a trained mental health professional will be available on Oct. 11 for depression and other conditions at the following locations.

• Michigan Medicine Office of Counseling and Workplace Resilience, D2101 Medical Professional Building,  8 a.m. – 2 p.m. (for Michigan Medicine faculty, staff and immediate family members)

• U-M Depression Center, in partnership with the College of Engineering and Rackham Graduate School, Duderstadt Center on North Campus, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. (open to the public, no university affiliation needed)

Feedback provided after a screening is informational, not diagnostic. Based on screening results, the mental health professional may recommend a more comprehensive evaluation.

Online screenings and resources: Free online mental health screenings are available at any time for depression and other conditions, including bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, alcohol misuse, eating disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder. Participants will receive an immediate result at the end of each screening to print and take to a counselor for further evaluation if necessary.

• For faculty and staff, MHealthy offers confidential, anonymous online mental health screenings at this website.

• For students, Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) offers confidential, anonymous online mental health screenings on the CAPS website at mentalhealthscreening.org/goblue.

• For the general public, the U-M Psychological Clinic offers confidential, anonymous online mental health screenings on its website.

The Depression Center also recently launched a newly-revised online toolkit that provides information, tools, support and resources to guide individuals through their mental health journey. It also offers help to family members and caregivers of those who suffer from mood disorders, and all people who wish to better understand depression and bipolar disorder.

 Counseling services: Confidential short-term counseling is always available to Michigan Medicine faculty and staff and U-M students at no charge:

• Michigan Medicine employees, contact the Office of Counseling and Workplace Resilience at (734) 763-5409, email counseling@med.umich.edu or visit its website.

• Students, contact CAPS at 734-764-8312 or visit the CAPS website.

• For the general public, the U-M Psychological Clinic offers outpatient mental health services for adults and couples 18 and over. It is a fee-for-service clinic that accepts some insurance plans. University affiliation is not required. Call 734-764-3471 or visit its website for more information.

All U-M health plans cover mental and behavioral health services like counseling, therapy and substance abuse treatment. For specific information on benefits, U-M Premier Care and GradCare members should call the mental health/substance abuse phone number listed on the back of their insurance card. Members of the Community Blue PPO or Comprehensive Major Medical plans should call BCBSM customer service.

Learn more about all of the depression screening events and resources offered by the university.