National Depression Screening Day: Don't Wait, Get Screened Today

(San Diego - October 7, 2009) - October 8 is National Depression Screening Day, and the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists urges all adults to get screened for depression.

Why get screened? Depression is on the rise due to the troubled economy, financial struggles, increased unemployment and home foreclosures. In fact, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, 18.9 million American adults suffer from depressive disorders, and many aren't receiving critical treatment. This can lead to problems ranging from relationship issues to suicide.

Depression can be triggered by a variety of outside factors, including:

• Major illness or loss of a loved one
• Difficult relationships or living situations
• Financial pressures
• Job stress

"Many people think they can just 'get over' depression. It doesn't work like that," said Patsy Pinkney Phillips, Ph.D., president of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists Board and a licensed marriage and family therapist. "It's critical that adults get screened so they can acknowledge the problem, get needed treatment and start toward recovery, instead of living their lives in a fog of depression."

Are you or is a close friend/family member suffering from depression? Warning signs may include:

• Loss of energy and fatigue
• Change in sleep patterns
• Feeling of hopelessness and unworthiness
• Difficulty concentrating
• Suicidal thoughts
• Weight loss/gain or increase/decrease in appetite
• Overwhelming feeling of sadness and grief
• Increased irritability and anger
• Withdrawal from some or all family and friends

If you think you may be depressed, don't wait. The earlier you take action, the easier it will be to start feeling better. Schedule an appointment with your marriage and family therapist or visit www.CounselingCalifornia.com, a free service to help you find a California-based marriage and family therapist in your area. Your therapist will perform a thorough evaluation, determine if you are indeed depressed, and if so, will recommend appropriate treatment, likely to include talk therapy. Your therapist can also partner with your doctor if anti-depressant medication is needed.

About CAMFT
The California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, with 27 chapters throughout the state, is an independent professional organization, representing the interests of licensed marriage and family therapists. CAMFT provides CounselingCalifornia.com as a resource to the public looking for marriage and family therapists located in California. For more information about CAMFT, please call (858) 292-2638 or visit www.camft.org.

Media Contact: Amber Albrecht
Porter Novelli
Phone: (619) 687-7015 or (949) 500-2535
E-mail: amber.albrecht@porternovelli.com