February 5, 1999

The Mental Health America (NMHA), in collaboration with APA and 18 other sponsoring organizations, is coordinating a nationwide depression screening on May 4 in observance of Childhood Depression Awareness Day.

The NMHA has mailed 5,000 Childhood Depression Awareness Day planning guides to sponsors and interested parties in all 50 states, Canada, and Mexico. APA is also distributing the guides through several district branches.

"We encourage APA members to participate in the depression screenings for the public," said Claudia Barnett, manager of network communications for APA's Division of Public Affairs. The guides include information on suggested activities for Childhood Depression Awareness Day, fact sheets, a depression checklist for adults, and promotional materials for use in public service announcements.

In addition to promoting the screening of children for depression, organizers of the event aim to teach parents how to identify warning signs for childhood depression. Another key goal is promoting the understanding that childhood depression is readily treatable and that children can achieve a bright future without depression.

An estimated one in 33 children and one in eight adolescents suffers from depression, which, if left untreated, may result in suicide, according to the federal Center for Mental Health Services. Also, the suicide rate for youngsters ages 5 to 24 has nearly tripled since 1960, making it the leading cause of death in adolescents and the second leading cause of death among college-age youth, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

The NMHA has coined the slogan "What's the Matter" to promote the event, which is also called "Green Ribbon Day," from the symbol for children's mental health. Health care facilities and schools will allocate space for free depression screenings by psychiatrists and other mental health professionals. They will be assisted by the Green Ribbon Power Force, a group of cooperating hospitals and affiliated institutions.

Further information regarding Childhood Depression Awareness Day is available by contacting Shalini Madan, research analyst for the NMHA, at (703) 838-7548; fax (703)684-5968. Also, information is posted on the NMHA's Web site at www.nmha.org.