Depression screenings will be offered from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct 9, on the 2nd floor of the Mountainlair and at University Health Service, WVUHealthSciencesCenter, as part of National Depression Screening Day.

A free, confidential screening will include a quick mood self-test and talk with a counselor about your personal situation and concerns.

National Depression Screening Day is held each year during Mental Illness Awareness Week. It is designed to call attention to the illnesses of depression, manic-depression and anxiety; to educate the public about symptoms and effective treatments; to offer individuals the opportunity to be screened for the disorders; and to connect those in need of treatment to the mental health care system.

According to the National Foundation For Depressive Illness, an estimated 35-40 million Americans living today will suffer from major depressive illness during their lives. For each person directly suffering, three or four times that number of relatives, employees, associates and friends will also be adversely affected.

Symptoms of depression include increased restlessness and irritability, loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities, sleeping too little or too much and persistent sad, anxious or”empty”moods.

For more information, call the CarruthCenter at 293-4431 or stop by during walk in hours from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday. The CarruthCenter is located on the third floor of the StudentServicesCenter next to the Mountainlair.