Hood College Holds National Depression Screening Day

"Some of the goals of Mental Illness Awareness Week are to reduce stigma around mental illness, get people talking about it, and get them connected with resources."

Interview with Megan Doughty Shaine, Ph.D., Counseling

Program

Counseling, Clinical Mental Health (M.S.)
Counseling, School Counseling (M.S.)

Department

Psychology & Counseling

Faculty
Graduate School
Graduate Student

Academics
Social Sciences & Humanities
Health Sciences

01/14/2020

When did you first participate in National Depression Screening Day?

I received my Master's and Doctoral degrees in Counseling (2010, 2016) from The George Washington University, where I served as a clinical supervisor for Master’s students in the Clinical Mental Health and School Counseling Programs.

I began participating and supervising the National Depression Day Screening events in 2009. This is the first year we have offered the screenings here at Hood College. Counseling Master's students who conducted the screenings have been very well trained in assessment for mood and anxiety disorders, as well as suicide risk assessment. They are all currently completing their field placements at area mental health facilities and schools.

What can you tell us about Mental Illness Awareness Week?

Mental Illness Awareness Week was October 6-12, 2019. Some of the goals of Mental Illness Awareness Week are to reduce stigma around mental illness, get people talking about it, and get them connected with resources. We have the same goals in screening students for depression, other mood disorders, and post traumatic stress.

What would you like Hood students to take away from this National Depression Screening Day event?

Hood students had a chance to connect with trained counselor interns, licensed staff from the Counseling Center and Counseling program faculty. They took a 5-minute assessment to screen for any symptoms of mood disorders, anxiety, and PTSD, and talk the results over with a trained screener.

Based on the results, the screeners made recommendations for follow up at the Counseling Center on campus, or connect the student with other campus and community resources. We hope students come away with an increased understanding of their own current psychological wellbeing, as well as information and resources about where to find support.

Where can students meet with counselors after this screening event?

Students can call Counseling Services at (301) 698-8374, or visit the website for more information: https://www.hood.edu/campus-community/health-counseling-services/counseling-services

Students can also search for a local provider through Hood's Thriving Campus referral portal at https://hood.thrivingcampus.com/

Any other information that you would like to share?

This year we screened 109 Hood College undergraduate and graduate students, as well as faculty members and staff; many of those screened scheduled appointments with the Counseling Center. We consider this a huge success and look forward to offering this outreach event again in the future!

Inspired to #GOFURTHER in your studies & career? Learn more about our graduate Clinical Mental Health and School Counseling programs by clicking here!