Westborough – Westborough Youth & Family Services (WYFS) will offer the community free mental health screenings Thursday, Jan. 23, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Forbes Building, Room 305, 45 W. Main St., Westborough.
WYFS and Pastoral Counseling Centers of MA welcome community members to take part in this free, confidential screening event. The screening tool, a brief questionnaire, allows participants to learn whether their symptoms are consistent with one of four treatable mental health disorders: depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. Mental health counselors will be available to reviews participants’ responses and offer suggestions about ways to follow up. A resource list of local providers will be distributed to help participants identify their next steps. Please allow about 30 minutes per screening.
A Massachusetts-based organization, Screening for Mental Health, first initiated this screening effort in 1990. It grows yearly and is now worldwide. Founder Douglas Jacobs, MD, understood the importance of providing education about mental health, and offering accessible mental health screening to the community. Early identification of symptoms allows treatment to be most effective.
Through a Massachusetts Department of Public Health grant, WYFS has been able to receive screening materials at no cost. In 2018, Screening for Mental Health merged with Riverside Community Care, a behavioral healthcare organization.
As education is an important part of National Depression Screening Day, the WYFS office will offer extensive materials related to mental health. All are welcome to browse and take home materials that interest them, regardless of whether they plan to participate in a screening. Counselors will be available throughout the day to answer questions.
To ensure adequate time for your screening, contact WYFS to reserve a time slot at 508-366-3090 or yfs@town.westborough.ma.us. Walk-ins are welcomed as well. Screenings for children and adolescents require a parent or legal guardian to be present. Anyone who desires a screening or has other questions related to mental health may also contact WYFS about scheduling an appointment on another day.