The program has grown to the point that this year's program, which will be held October 6, is expected to provide free screening for more than 100,000 people at over 2,000 locations. For many, this is their first opportunity to talk to a psychiatrist. Although the number of people screened has grown steadily each year, the percentage diagnosed as depressed has remained constant at around 78 percent, he said. Almost half of those identified as depressed said they had suicidal thoughts some of the time. The free screening consists of a multiple-choice questionnaire, a lecture on various aspects of depression and an interview with a mental health specialist.
Depression is an illness with specific symptoms and specific treatments.
What the program has yet to document is whether those who are identified as depressed get follow-up treatment. This year referrals at 100 of the screening sites will be tracked to answer this question. The original sponsors of the screening program were the American Psychiatric Association, Harvard Medical School and McLean Hospital. Today it also receives financial support from the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Mental Health Association and numerous other groups. A. Streit Copyright 1994, President and Fellows of Harvard College.