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1 Out, 2023

October is National Depression Screening Month

Major depression is one of the most common mental health disorders, affecting more than 16 million American adults each year. Like screenings for other illnesses, screenings for depression should be a routine part of healthcare, as it can co-occur with and complicate other conditions (Source: mhanational.org). BCBSRI supports and encourages the use of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) for the screening of depression in primary care settings. Screening all patients allows for a discussion around treatment options which can prevent worsening of symptoms or the need for more intensive care in the future.

BCBSRI offers the following resources and programs for members:

Behavioral Resourcesbh