Westborough Youth &Family offers Derpession Screening Oct.11th

Westborough Youth & Family Services and Pastoral Counseling Centers of MA

Mental Health Screening Event Thursday, October 11^th from 10am to 6pm

National Depression Screening Day falls on Thursday, October 11^th this year. As we do each year, WYFS provides a free, confidential mental health screening to the community.

A Massachusetts based organization, Screening for Mental Health, first initiated this screening effort in 1990. It grows yearly and is now world-wide. The founder, Douglas Jacobs, MD understood the importance of providing education about mental health, and offering accessible mental health screening to the community. Early identification of symptoms allows treatment to be most effective. Through a Massachusetts Department of Public Health grant, we have been able to receive screening materials at no cost. In 2018, Screening for Mental Health merged with Riverside Community Care, a behavioral health care organization.

WYFS and Pastoral Counseling Center s of MA welcome community members to take part in this free, confidential screening event. 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 will be 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. Please 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. 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 through-out the day to answer questions.

So that we may provide you with adequate time for your screening, kindly phone or email us to reserve a time slot: 508-366-3090 or yfs@town.westborough.ma.us. Walk-ins are welcomed as well. Screenings for children and adolescents require a parent or legal guardian to be present Anyone who desires a screening or has other questions related to mental health may also contact us about scheduling an appointment on another day, if October 11^th is inconvenient. Screenings will be held at the WYFS office at the Central One Federal Credit Union, 40 South Street, 2nd Floor, Westborough.