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Mental Health Self-Assessment Video
Mental Health Screening: More than a Mood Ring Anonymous, self-directed screening available at www.MilitaryMentalHealth.org
Infinitely more reliable than a mood ring, more sophisticated than a magazine quiz, mental health screening is a trusted technique to help individuals think through their own feelings and behaviors, giving them a road map toward resources that can help. In the late 1980’s, screening as a medical technique came into its own. Medical professionals started routine screenings for cancer, heart disease, and a host of other conditions. Mental health screening, however, was unheard of. The advent of the world’s first mental health screening program, National Depression Screening Day®, in 1991, changed all of that. Suddenly, ordinary individuals could access validated questionnaires and speak to a mental health professional about what the tests mean and what they should do next. Depression, long a silent illness, started to emerge from the shadows. Anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and alcohol abuse started to lose their stigma. The first National Depression Screening Day attracted more than 5,000 people. Colleges became involved. Military bases started screening. Hospitals and mental health centers opened their doors. The experiences of these sites underscored the need to speak about mental health as openly and honestly as we do about physical health. Asking simple questions and giving straightforward answers became the watchword. Sometimes it is difficult for those who are suffering from depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, an alcohol problem or a related condition to verbalize what is going on. Symptoms are varied and can include anger, tension, trouble sleeping, sadness, reliving past traumatic events, and feeling disconnected from the outside world. This is where a screening tool can be very helpful. A screening tool is simply a series of questions that, when linked together, help create a picture of how that person is feeling and what kind of evaluation they may need. It is not a diagnosis. It is a net that gently helps catch those who may need some assistance. Military personnel and their families can now take anonymous, mental health and alcohol self-assessments at www.MilitaryMentalHealth.org. After completion of the online assessment, results are provided, as well as information about how the individual can follow up on what he or she learns. Stress is part of military life, but illnesses that affect performance, functioning, daily emotional well-being, and interactions with loved ones should be evaluated. Family members affected by deployment should take advantage of this unique resource, as well. Sometimes the most courageous step is asking for help.
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Peace of Mind, Inc. |
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817 West Front Street P.O. Box 2088 Lillington, NC 27546-2088 Phone: (910) 814 - 2197 Fax: (910) 814 - 2167 |
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