Feeling Stressed or Anxious? Get Help!

NASHVILLE—With home foreclosures on the rise, the increasing price of fuel and energy, and the recent events on Wall Street, many Tennesseans find themselves feeling worried and depressed. It is common to feel extra stress during tough financial times, but when the negative feelings persist and prevent you from doing daily activities and interacting with others, it could be a sign of a more serious condition.

The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities would like for Tennesseans to be aware of National Depression Screening Day on October 10th. Screenings are free and open to the public. Participants can take an anonymous test to check for signs of depression or a related disorder, and resources will be available on how to seek affordable help.

TDMHDD is sponsoring depression screenings on Friday, October 10th in Conference Room C in the Cordell Hull Building, 425 5th Avenue North, Nashville; from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Appointments can be made by calling 1-800-560-5767 or 615-532-6700. Walk-ins are also welcome, and all screenings are confidential. Those persons interested in doing a free, online screening can visit www.mentalhealthscreening.org.

“It is so important that persons feeling down for a long period of time due to financial stress seek the needed assistance that can help them address these feelings and comfort others. Times will get better,” stated TDMHDD Commissioner Virginia Trotter Betts. “It is completely normal to be fearful, angry or shocked about losing your job or your house. If you find yourself withdrawing from daily activities it is important to know that there are people out there who care and want to help.”

Some facts about depression:
• Each year, depressive disorders affect approximately 9.5 percent of Tennesseans age 18 and older.
• A depressive episode may be triggered by trauma, loss of a loved one, or hard financial times. Subsequent depressive episodes may occur with or without an obvious trigger.
• Depressive disorders cost employers more than $51 billion per year in absenteeism and lost productivity.
• More than 80 percent of people with clinical depression can be successfully treated.

For additional mental health and substance abuse information please visit www.state.tn.us/mental or call (615) 532-6500.