Throwback Thursday: ACC Offered a Free Depression Screening

By: Cameron Yarumian

October 24, 2019

This article originally appeared in The Arapahoe Pinnacle

In 1995, during the month of October, Arapahoe Community College offered screening as a part of the National Depression Screening Day (NDSD). National Depression Screening Day began as an effort to reach people across the nation with important mental health education and connect them with support services.

Individuals were asked to complete an anonymously written test for depression and will have the opportunity to discuss the results with a mental health professional. A quick talk on the causes, symptoms, and treatments of depression was given to the participants at the ACC depression screening.

The former director of the NDSD project, Douglas Jacobs commented, “We hope that this nationwide effort to provide mental health screening for depression will educate the public about the signs and symptoms of depression and encourage those who may be unlearnable to seek evaluation and treatment.”

Twenty-five years later, NDSD has reached thousands of colleges and community-based organizations providing the program to the public each year.

In 1995, the suicide statistics for people who die annually was about 30,000. As of 2017-2018, suicide takes the lives of over 44,965 Americans every year. Within those 24 years, there has been about a 15,000 suicide increase, according to SAVE organization.

As well in 1995, the Male/Female ratio was 4:1, and according to the SAVE organization statics say that suicide among males is 4x’s higher than among females. Male deaths represent 79% of all US suicides.

According to the Mental Health Colorado website, the 1990s saw united attempts at both the state and national level to increase awareness and reduce the stigma of mental illness. Although the 1990s saw enormous changes in the mental health care system in the United States, with the increase in the rate of treatment, most patients with a mental disorder did not receive treatment back then.

Would offering a screening in 2019 at ACC benefit the students and staff now?

Take an anonymous screening at https://helpyourselfhelpothers.org