Taking a depression test can be your ticket to a happy Thanksgiving

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CALGARY, Oct 6 /CNW/ - Calgary Counselling Centre (CCC) holds the key to conquering depression. On Oct. 7, 2010 and throughout the Thanksgiving weekend, the Centre will be the official Canadian testing centre for National Depression Screening Day. The screening couldn’t come at a better time. In year over year comparisons, Calgary Counselling Centre requests in 2010 for depression treatment are up 16 per cent. Requests for treatment of anxiety issues are almost as significant – up 12 per cent over 2009.

“This free service is one way we give back to our community,” says Robbie Babins-Wagner, Calgary Counselling Centre CEO. “This year, more than any other, we are seeing the urgency for this free test. We believe the national picture is similar and so we are extending our reach nationally, to help Canadians everywhere conquer depression.”

For the fifth year in a row, the Centre will offer a free depression screening service, aligning with the North American screening for Mental Illness. This is the first year the Centre has actively sought participation outside Alberta.

Affecting more than one million Canadians a year, it is estimated 15-20 per cent of Calgarians will experience some level of depression in their lifetime. It affects 121 million people worldwide, yet fewer than 25 per cent of those affected have access to effective treatments.

“As part of our objective to create awareness of mental health issues, offering the National Depression Screening Day service represents our commitment to help reduce the affects of this treatable illness in our community. With a simple, confidential screening, we can help people discover if the way they’ve been feeling could, in fact, be depression. The good news is – 80 per cent of people with depression can improve if they get help.”

The free, confidential screening is available through www.test4depression.com. The test indicates to participants the presence or absence of symptoms and offers referral for further assessment.

Calgary Counselling Centre is a registered charitable organization, and the leading research and knowledge-based counselling facility in Canada. Since 1962, the Centre has been committed to providing compassionate, professional and affordable counselling services that help build better lives for Calgarians through positive outcomes. Offering service in over 15 languages, the Centre is also a recognized leader in the treatment of family violence, depression, low self esteem and eating disorders. Through its ongoing research and education programs, Calgary Counselling Centre strives to meet the changing needs of our community. The Centre’s fee structure is based on income - no one is turned away for an inability to pay.

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For further information:

Kathleen Bell, Communications Officer, Calgary Counselling Centre (p) 403.691.5905 or (c) 403.561-1187 (e) [email protected]