The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) is one of the largest providers of public inpatient and outpatient behavioral health services in the United States. HHC serves clients who mirror the complex racial and cultural picture of the city. This diversity presents monumental challenges. Recognizing that depression affects nearly 10% of adult Americans ages 18 and older and results in the loss of 200 million working days, HHC has made a long-term commitment to culturally competent outreach, assessment and treatment services. Since 1997, HHC has participated as a corporate entity in National Depression Screening Day (NDSD), the national campaign sponsored by the National Mental Health Association. While using the basic NDSD model and assessment tools, HHC has extensively adapted and tailored the approach to meet the needs of its widely diverse clientele and improve their access to services. These efforts have been highly successful. For the last four years, HHC has had the largest number of participants of all NDSD sites. In 2000, 3,170 individuals (a 51% increase over 1999) received information on depression, suicide and related behavioral health topics. Over 900 people were screened for depression and/or bipolar disorders, 300 of whom received referrals for further evaluation and treatment. To meet the cutural diversity needs of the HHC public, information was provided in 16 different languages. Participants self-identified as belonging to 30 different cultures/ethnicities.
Learning Objectives: Participants will learn how to: --tailor a media, assessment and depression screening campaign that is culturally competent --customize outreach efforts to a culturally diverse population --increase participation in a depression screening and public education campaign by providing culturally-appropriate incentives to participants
Keywords: Adult and Child Mental Health, Depression
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Screening for Mental Health, Inc., the sponsor of National Depression Screening Day, One Washington Street, Suite 304, Wellesley Hills, MA 02481-1706 - Telephone: 781/239-0071 - www.mentalhealthscreening.org
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.