Mental Health Screening Event To Be Held In Town

WESTBOROUGH, MA—As with every year, Westborough Youth & Family Services and Assabet Valley Pastoral Counseling in conjunction with National Depression Screen Day hosts a free, confidential, mental health screening to the community.

This year, that falls on Thursday, Oct. 5.

A Massachusetts based organization, Screening for Mental Health first initiated this screening effort in 1990, and it has grown each year. Experts agree that early identification of symptoms allows treatment to be most effective. Through a Massachusetts Department of Public Health grant, the town is able to receive screening materials at no cost.

WYFS and Assabet Valley Pastoral Counseling welcome community members to take part in this free, confidential screening event, said an announcement from the two groups. The screening tool, a brief questionnaire, allows participants to learn whether their symptoms are consistent with one of four treatable mental health disorders: depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. Mental health counselors are available to reviews participants’ responses and offer suggestions about ways to follow-up. A resource list of local providers will be distributed to help participants identify their next steps. Allow about 30 minutes per screening.

As education is an important part of National Depression Screening Day, the WYFS office will offer extensive materials related to mental health, said the release. All are welcome to browse and take home materials that interest them, regardless of whether they plan to participate in a screening. Counselors will be available throughout the day to answer questions.

Phone or email to reserve a time slot: 508-366-3090 or yfs@town.westborough.ma.us. Walk-ins are welcomed as well. Screenings for children require a parent to be present. Parents are also an important part of screenings for adolescents, and they are encouraged to accompany their teens. Anyone who desires a screening or has other questions related to mental health may also contact the groups to schedule an appointment on another day if Oct 5 is inconvenient.

Screenings are held at the WYFS office at the Central One Federal Credit Union, 40 South St., 2nd Floor, Westborough.

Photo via Shutterstock