Why
is it important to screen for depression?
“Depression
can lead to powerful, extreme, and unreasonable feelings of
hopelessness, despair, self-doubt and “worldweariness.”
The more extreme these feelings grow and are described as
unendurable, the more likely it is that the idea of suicide
may enter a person's mind” (Granello, 2002, p. 9).
Research has shown that a diagnosis of major depression increases
the risk of suicide, suicide attempts, and non-suicidal self-mutilation
(Reference 2).
Depression
screening instruments and clinical depression measures should
be used as part of a clinical guide for suicide assessment.
High scores on depression instruments such as the Beck
Scale for Suicide Ideation, Beck Depression Inventory II,
and Beck Hopelessness scale may be related to increased risk
for suicide attempts (Reference 3).
Assessment
and screening tools are intended for use by trained mental
health clinicians. If there is ever a question about
the administration, interpretation, or communication of results,
a trained mental health clinician, which may be a supervisor,
should be contacted to assist in the proper administration
and interpretation of these tools.
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Internet
National
Mental Health Association (NMHA): depression-screening.org
The
depression-screening.org Web site is sponsored
by the NMHA as part of NMHA's Campaign for America's Mental
Health. The mission of this Web site is to educate people
about clinical depression, offer a confidential way for people
to get screened for symptoms of the illness, and guide people
toward appropriate professional help if necessary.
The
depression-screening.org Web site is available at
the following Web address:
http://www.depression-screening.org/
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