If you’re part of the 29% of U.S. adults diagnosed with depression, you know how difficult it is to live with. Depression is a common but serious mood disorder that negatively affects how you think, feel and behave. You may have persistent feelings of sadness and struggle to complete day-to-day activities. If these symptoms sound familiar but you’ve never been diagnosed, let’s talk about National Depression Screening Day.
What Is National Depression Screening Day?
National Depression Screening Day was first launched in 1991 to raise awareness of the disorder and encourage accessible, affordable mental health screenings. Depression can be tricky because there’s often no clear reason why you have it. A number of factors can be at play, including your environment, genetics and biology, meaning everyone experiences symptoms differently. However, your unique experience with depression is still valid.
When Is National Depression Day, and Why Does It Matter?
National Depression Screening Day coincides with Mental Illness Awareness Week each year during the first week of October. For 2023, it’s scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 5.
Now that you know when Depression Day is, it’s important to understand why it matters so much.
Think about it this way. If you have a physical illness, such as heart disease, diabetes or high blood pressure, getting a health screening can detect symptoms and inform a medical professional what treatment to recommend. Clinical depression is also a serious illness, and it’s highly treatable, meaning the right treatment can help you feel better. Other reasons you should consider getting screened include:
- Clinical depression can cause suicide.
- Depression symptoms are often mistakenly believed to be a normal part of life.
- Depression can co-occur with other medical conditions.
- Clinical depression affects all genders, ages, races and socioeconomic groups.
Being diagnosed with a serious mental illness can be scary, and it’s okay if you feel that way. However, living with an untreated illness can have severe consequences. By encouraging communities, military bases, schools and workplaces to implement screenings, National Depression Screening Day is designed to help you feel less intimidated about asking for help.
How Depression Awareness Day Combats Stigma
There’s a lengthy history of stigma associated with mental health struggles such as depression, which can make people hesitant about seeking help. You may be worried people will judge you or treat you differently if they learn you have depression. You’re not alone in this — fear of negative opinions and not wanting others to find out are top reasons people don’t seek mental health treatment.
That said, stigmas are negative stereotypes or outdated beliefs society holds against people labeled with a mental illness. Just because your neighbor or colleague believes people with depression are lazy and can get over it whenever they want doesn’t mean these harmful remarks are true. They only serve to isolate or invalidate your feelings.
The best way to combat stigma is to raise awareness about depression and the real struggles people face. National Depression Screening Day does exactly that by spreading accurate information about depression symptoms, how they can be treated and the obstacles preventing people from accessing care.
Resources for People With Depression
Although having a mental illness can often feel isolating, you don’t have to deal with it alone. There are resources available to help you access needed support.
- Mental Health Hotline: This 24-hour service provider can connect you with mental health resources and support in your area. Call 1-866-903-3787.
- SAMHSA National Helpline: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) offers a free, confidential, 24-hour information and treatment referral service in English and Spanish to meet your mental health and substance abuse-related needs. Call 1-800-487-4889 or text your ZIP code to 435748.
- NAMI Helpline: The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) operates a free volunteer helpline with trained specialists to guide mental health struggles. You can call 1-800-950-6264 or text “HelpLine” to 62640.
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: If you’re experiencing serious distress, the 988 Lifeline provides free, 24-hour support in English and Spanish to de-escalate crises and prevent suicide. Call or text 988 for assistance, or message a crisis counselor through the website.
Pursue a More Positive Future
Because of National Depression Screening Day, more people are aware of how serious depression is and feel comfortable asking for help. If you’ve been struggling with your mental health, this is your sign to reach out.
Mental Health Hotline is here for you 24/7, so you don’t have to go through this alone. Contact our depression hotline to work through your emotions and discover resources that provide the support you need.