October 13, 2000

On Oct. 5, thousands of people across the country dialed a hotline phone number to connect them to local resources – including the MGH – for help with clinical depression. National Depression Screening Day (NDSD) is designed to raise awareness about depression, to educate the public about symptoms and effective treatments, to offer a free screening for the disorder and to connect those in need of treatment with a local mental health provider.

The MGH Depression Clinical and Research Program has participated in NDSD since its inception eight years ago. MGH psychiatrists and psychologists conducted the free screening Oct. 5 in the Wellman Conference Room.

"We feel that it is important to participate in this nationwide screening, not only to help raise awareness about depression, but also to help people get the support they need if they show symptoms of depression," says Jonathan Alpert, MD, PhD, associate director of the MGH Depression Clinical and Research Program. "Those who suffer from depression should know that there are effective treatments available to help them with this disorder, and there is research aimed to improve existing approaches."

Click here for information about symptoms of depression.  For more information, call the MGH Outpatient Psychiatry Division at 724-5600.

MGH Depresson Screening staff include: back row from left, Christine Dording, MD, Nicole Neault, Andrew Nierenberg, MD, John Worthington, MD, and Jonathan Alpert, MD, PhD. Front row, from left, Andrea Sickinger and Stella Bitran.