Westborough – Westborough Youth & Family Services (WYFS) and Assabet Valley Pastoral Counseling will offer free mental health screenings Thursday, Oct. 5, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the WYFS office, Central One Federal Credit Union, 40 South St., second floor. Oct. 5 is National Depression Screening Day.
A Massachusetts-based organization, Screening for Mental Health, first initiated this screening effort in 1990. It grows yearly and is now worldwide. Through a Massachusetts Department of Public Health grant, WYFS 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. 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. Each screening will take about 30 minutes.
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 throughout the day to answer questions.
Those wishing to participate should reserve a time slot at 508-366-3090 or [email protected]. Walk-ins are welcome as well. Screenings for children require a parent to be present. Parents are also an important part of screenings for adolescents are are encouraged to accompany their teens. Anyone who desires a screening or has other questions related to mental health may also contact WYFS about scheduling an appointment on another day, if Oct. 5 is inconvenient.
