News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 9, 2013 

Free Depression Screening and Counseling Available at
12 HHC Hospitals and Health Centers
on National Depression Screening Day

(New York, NY) The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) will offer free depression screening and counseling at 12 locations across the city on October 10 in recognition of National Depression Screening Day, part of Mental Illness Awareness Week. The confidential screenings will be conducted by mental health professionals in individual, private consultations and are designed to identify symptoms of depression and mood disorders. Patients requiring assistance will be referred to appropriate levels of treatment within each facility.

“Mental health screenings should be a routine part of preventive medical care,” said HHC President Alan D. Aviles. “Early intervention and treatment are key in helping patients regain control over an illness that may interfere with their daily functions and responsibilities. HHC is one of the leading providers of mental health services in New York, and is committed to raising awareness about mental health and the related services that HHC offers to the community.”

National Depression Screening Day is the nation's oldest voluntary, community-based screening program that provides free screening and referral information for treatment of depression. Since 1991, more than half a million people each year have been screened for depression on National Depression Screening Day.

Depression screenings will take place on October 10 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the following HHC facilities:

Jacobi Medical Center 1400 Pelham Pkwy. South Bronx, NY 10461 (718) 918-5000	Bellevue Hospital Center 462 First Avenue (@ East 28th St) New York, NY 10016 (212) 562-4141
Lincoln Medical Center 234 East 149th Street Bronx, NY 10451 (718) 579-5000	Gouverneur Healthcare Services 227 Madison Street New York, NY 10002 (212) 238-7000
North Central Bronx Hospital 3424 Kossuth Avenue Bronx, NY 10467 (718) 519-5000	Harlem Hospital Center Martin Luther King Jr. Bldg. 530 Lenox Avenue New York, NY 10037 (212) 939-1000
Coney Island Hospital 2601 Ocean Pkwy. Brooklyn, NY 11235 (718) 616-3000	Elmhurst Hospital Center 79-01 Broadway Elmhurst, NY 11373 (718) 334-4000
Kings County Hospital 451 Clarkson Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11203 (718) 245-3131	Cumberland Diagnostic & Treatment Center 100 North Portland Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11205 (718) 260-7500
Woodhull Medical & Mental Health Center 760 Broadway Brooklyn, NY 11206 (718) 963-8000	Queens Hospital Center 82-68 164th Street Queens, NY 11432 (718) 883-3000

Depression is a common yet serious medical condition, characterized by pervasive low mood; loss of interest or pleasure in nearly all activities; and significant distress or impairment in social, occupational or other important areas of functioning. Other symptoms can include difficulty concentrating, loss of energy, trouble sleeping, changes in weight, feelings of worthlessness and recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.

According to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, each year, depression affects more than 400,000 (8 percent) adult New Yorkers, but only one-third of these individuals receives treatment. Early detection and treatment can reduce suffering and improve quality of life. Depression can worsen the course and complicate the treatment of other health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. In its most serious and tragic form, depression can lead to suicide.

HHC public hospitals and community health centers in every borough offer year-round mental health services to help with depression and other more serious mental health conditions such as psychosis, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. In addition to depression screening, HHC offers affordable mental health services that include Behavioral Health Services for Children, Adolescents, Adults and Seniors; Psychiatric Emergency Services; and Substance Abuse and Dependence. Services are also offered through the WTC Environmental Health Center dedicated to the assessment and treatment of WTC-related conditions providing medical and mental health care with no out of pocket costs to residents, students, workers, or passersby who may still be sick from 9/11.

Contact: Ian Michaels (HHC) (212) 788-3339

 About HHC

The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) is a $6.7 billion integrated healthcare delivery system with its own 420,000 member health plan, MetroPlus, and is the largest municipal healthcare organization in the country. HHC serves 1.4 million New Yorkers every year and more than 475,000 are uninsured. HHC provides medical, mental health and substance abuse services through its 11 acute care hospitals, four skilled nursing facilities, six large diagnostic and treatment centers and more than 70 community based clinics. HHC Health and Home Care also provides in-home services for New Yorkers. HHC was the 2008 recipient of the National Quality Forum and The Joint Commission's John M. Eisenberg Award for Innovation in Patient Safety and Quality. For more information, visit www.nyc.gov/hhc or find us on facebook.com/nycHHC or twitter.com/HHCnyc.