National Depression Screening Day, held annually on the Thursday of the first full week in October, is an education and screening event conducted by hospitals, clinics, colleges, and community groups nationwide. Much like the medical community screens for diabetes and high blood pressure, the group Screening for Mental Health (SMH) offers large-scale mood disorder screenings for the public. The program provides free anonymous screenings for depression, generalized anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as referral to treatment resources. Screenings are held both online and in-person and thousands of people participate each year.

This year, Depression Screening Day is focusing on the importance of seeking help. Depression is a common and treatable mood disorder, and spreading awareness about the different ways those dealing with it can get help could save lives. Please join us this National Depression Screening Day and help us spread the word to increase awareness of mental health.

BCBSRI supports and encourages use of the PHQ-9 for depression screening in primary care settings.

Why screen for depression in primary care?

• The United States Preventive Services (USPS) Task Force has issued guidelines for universal depression screenings and stated that 100% of patients should be screened annually for depression.
• Depression is one of the most common chronic conditions across the population. National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) estimates that one in four adults at any given point in time are living with depression.
• Screening all patients for depression in primary care can be very useful. Most providers are able to easily identify their patients with severe depression. However, those with mild or moderate depression often go undetected. If mild or moderate depression is identified and discussed during a primary care appointment, it can be a relief to the patient to be able to discuss their feelings openly with the primary care provider and be given treatment options. It can also help the patient create an action plan that may help them avoid more severe depression, and the need for more intensive medical care, in the future.

What do I do if my patient screens positive for depression?

As a primary care provider, you have a relationship with the patient and have the opportunity to identify depression and facilitate relief. Work together with your patient to create a comprehensive treatment plan using shared decision making. Some examples of interventions may include providing the patient with resources regarding depression and/ or depression and chronic disease or providing the patient with resources regarding medication, if applicable. You may also consider offering Problem Solving Treatment or brief supportive counseling services within you practice.

Provide members with referrals for specialty care as needed. Not everyone with depression needs a referral for therapy. Some patients could benefit from brief interventions that could be done by a nurse case manager or other clinical staff already working in your practice. Consider options for providing supportive counseling to patients as needed, particularly as a patient is starting on a new antidepressant. It is important to stay in contact with the patient as they are managing their depression and/or other chronic conditions. Frequent check-ins with patients to provide support and education as needed will help them stay on track with managing their depression. Behavioral health case management, provided through our behavioral health partner, Beacon Health Options, is also available to you as a resource for your patients.

Please see the article "BCBSRI promotes integrated behavioral health in primary care settings" for additional information on Beacon’s program and other ways to connect your patients to behavioral health resources.