Human Services, Inc. is a dedicated, caring community human service agency offering hope and help to children, adolescents, adults, the elderly and families in Washington County, MN who struggle with aging, transportation, chemical and mental health, & domestic and sexual abuse.

HSI PROVIDES FREE DEPRESSION SCREENING FOR NATIONAL DEPRESSION SCREENING DAY

Mental illness affects more Americans than heart disease, cancer and lung disease combined.

One of five adults has a mental or emotional disorder.  One in 20 deals with serious, persistent mental illness.  According to new information from the Screening for Mental Health organization, the five most common symptoms of depression are:

• difficulty doing things done in the past
• feeling hopeless about the future
• difficulty in making decisions
• feeling worthless and not needed
• no longer enjoying once enjoyable activities

While the "blues" go away after a time, untreated clinical depression is an illness that typically persists and may lead, for some, to suicide.  Yet, once treated, more than 80 percent improve within one year.  Medical and mental health professionals can help sort out the best treatments for individuals which most commomly include individual, group or family therapy, medication, or both.  Screening for depression is the first sep.

Thursday, October 11, 2007, from 4 to 6pm a free walk-in mental health assessment that includes a film, free brochures, short screening test and a brief confidential conversation with a mental health professional will be held at HSI's Oakdale office, located at 7066 Stillwater Blvd. N., Oakdale, MN.  No appointment is necessary.

For more information, call:  651-777-5222