Baltimore City Mayor Catherine Pugh honored the Mental Health Association of Maryland and other advocates this week as part of Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW). MHAMD was recognized for our 100+ years of advocacy to ensure that the one in five Marylanders living with mental health problems have access to high-quality services, resources and information. Thank you, Mayor Pugh, for helping to increase awareness to such an important issue.
An annual part of MIAW is National Depression Screening Day. Major depression affects about 16 million American adults each year, and brief screenings are the quickest way to determine if you or a loved one should connect with a mental health professional- to get a checkup from your neck up. You can take a free, anonymous and confidential screening on our website. You’ll see your results immediately and receive recommendations and links to resources. Please note that the screenings provided are educational and not diagnostic, but can help you determine if your recent thoughts or behaviors may be associated with depression, a common, treatable mental health issue.
Additionally, Maryland has a statewide crisis hotline that can be reached day or night to provide support, guidance, and assistance to those in need. That number is 1-800-422-0009 and they can direct you to resources and providers in your community. Please reach out if you think you or a loved one can benefit from this service.