MEDICAL Health providers offer screening for depression

Mental health professionals also will screen for post-traumatic stress disorder.
YOUNGSTOWN -- Mental health providers in Youngstown, Liberty, Boardman, Austintown and Niles will participate in National Depression Screening Day on Thursday by providing free, anonymous consultations for manic-depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
National Depression Screening Day, long scheduled for Oct. 11, falls on the one-month anniversary of the terrorist attacks in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania.
For many, the initial shock and numbness is wearing off and depression setting in. Normal grief may linger and deepen into depression, and others will be faced with the first onset of post-traumatic stress disorder, health officials said.
Because of that, sites will not only offer depression screening, but some are prepared to offer assistance to those who may be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Why it's needed: Many who otherwise never would have required mental health treatment may now require contact with mental health professionals and may not know how to get help in their communities, officials said.
As part of the program, attendees will hear an educational presentation on depression and manic depression, take a written self-test and be able to talk privately with a mental health professional.
Ilana Roth-Cohn, a licensed independent social worker who is director of community outreach for the Center for Behavioral Medicine at Forum Health, said diagnoses will not be made at the screenings.
She said, however, that mental health professionals will follow up with additional questions and may refer people for treatment if that is indicated.
"I have received more calls this year than in the past about the screening, primarily from older adults, possibly because of the terrorist attacks," she said.
Roth-Cohn said information about depression and bipolar (manic depression) and post-traumatic stress disorder will be available.
Where to go: Area health care participants in the National Depression Screening Day are:
UForum Health: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Trumbull Memorial Hospital's Community Health Connection at the Eastwood Mall in Niles next to Ruby Tuesday's. Call (330) 740-3923 for information. No appointment is necessary.
UBelmont Pines Hospital, 615 Church Hill Hubbard Road, Liberty: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call (330) 759-2700 or (800) 423-5666 for information.
UParkview Counseling Center: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Phar-Mor on Market Street at Midlothian Boulevard and from 2 to 6 p.m. at Phar-Mor stores in Austintown, 4755 Mahoning Ave., and Boardman, 7121 Tiffany Blvd. Appointments are not necessary.