October is National Depression/Mental Health Screening Month

View The Integrated Care DC Resource About Integrating Screening in General Medical Settings

Did you know that approximately 1 in 5 adults (19.8%) in the District report having been told by a health professional that they had a depressive disorder (2020 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey)? Moreover, nearly 1 in 4 (23.6%) District adults surveyed in August 23–September 4, 2023 reported having symptoms consistent with an anxiety disorder or depressive disorder (U.S. Census Bureau, Household Pulse Survey 2020-2023).

Depression in adolescents is also a growing concern. According to the District’s 2021 Youth Risk Behavioral Survey, 1 in 3 (36.3%) District high school students had persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness during the 12 months before the survey, up from 1 in 4 (25.5%) students in 2012. More than 1 in 10 (11.9%) students attempted suicide.

These trends underscore the critical importance of early detection and treatment of depression and other mental health conditions. Universal screening, integrated primary and behavioral health services, measurement-based care, and other quality improvement strategies are critical components of Integrated Care DC’s training and technical assistance program (see Practice Spotlight for examples).

Talk with an Integrated Care DC coach today about how we can help and check out the resources below: