News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 7, 2015 

HHC Offers Free Depression Screenings and Counseling on National Depression Screening Day

NYC Health and Hospitals Offers Free Depression Screenings and Counseling on National Depression Screening Day

15 facilities throughout New York City will participate on October 8 to raise awareness about mental health education and treatment

(New York, NY) - New York City Health and Hospitals will offer free depression screenings and treatment referrals at 15 locations across the city on Thursday, October 8 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.

"Early intervention and treatment for mental and behavioral health patients is vital to regaining control over an illness before it becomes advanced and before it can derail lives," said Dr. Ram Raju, NYC Health and Hospitals President. "Health and Hospitals is a leader in providing mental health services in New York City, and continues to expand much-needed access through programs and services that address the needs of patients at all stages of life."

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.

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.

Depression screenings will take place on Thursday, October 8 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the following facilities and health centers:

Jacobi Medical Center 1400 Pelham Pkwy. South Bronx, NY 10461 (718) 918-5000	Bellevue Hospital Center 462 First Avenue New York, NY 10016 (212) 562-4141
Lincoln Medical Center 234 East 149th Street Bronx, NY 10451 (718) 579-5000	Gouverneur Health 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 506 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
Metropolitan Hospital Center 1901 1st Avenue New York, NY 10029 (212) 423-6262	Queens Hospital Center 82-68 164th Street Queens, NY 11432 (718) 883-3000
Woodhull Medical Center 760 Broadway Brooklyn, NY 11206 (718) 963-8000	East New York Diagnostic & Treatment Center 2094 Pitkin Avenue Brooklyn, New York 11207 (718) 240-0400
Morrisania Diagnostic and Treatment Center 1225 Gerard Avenue Bronx, New York 10452 (718) 960-2777

New York City Health and Hospitals facilities 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 screenings, affordable mental health services are available including behavioral health services for children, adolescents, adults and seniors; psychiatric emergency services; and substance abuse and dependency disorders.

 

Contact: Ian Michaels, (212) 788-3339
Jennifer Bender, (212) 788-3339

About HHC

The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) is a $6.7 billion integrated healthcare delivery system, the largest municipal healthcare organization in the country, and one of the New York area's largest providers of government-sponsored health insurance, MetroPlus Health Plan, the plan of choice for nearly half a million New Yorkers. 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, five 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.