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ADVERTISERS appreciate it when you tell them ... I saw your ad in the Chronicle. GRH holds depression screening clinic to mark Mental IlIness Awareness week here‘s more to good l health than not lookâ€" ing sick. That‘s the main message of a special FINE AUTOMOBILE BODY AND PAINT Meticulous Restoration Original Paint Finishes Unsurpassed Collision Repair FINE AUTO INC. 15 Centennial Dr. Kitchener 578â€"2052 PORSCHE JAGUAR Mercedes Benz Dealer Authorized MbHCh Mkhith Specializing in By Bos VRBANAC Chronicle Staff depression screening day that the Grand â€" River Hospital‘s Psychiatric and Mental â€" Health program hosted Tuesday to mark Mental lIliness Awareness week, Oct. 2â€"8. The most common menâ€" tal illness is depression, which affects nearly 10 per cent of all adults. Often what passes as feelings of sadness is ignored until the sympâ€" toms are more severe, longer lasting and more debilitatâ€" ing than expected. The person suffering from depression may not outwardly appear to be sick, but on the inside is in turâ€" moil. Symptoms that can manâ€" ifest â€" themselves include marked personality changes, changes in eating or sleeping pattern, and an inability to cope with probâ€" lems and daily activities. But the effects of depresâ€" sion are so misunderstood, nearly twoâ€"thirds of people suffering from this condition don‘t get help. That‘s unforâ€" tunate because with proper treatment nearly 80 per cent of those with depression can feel better, most within a couple of weeks. That‘s where the special depression screening sesâ€" sion, offered by the mental health team at the hospital, WATERLOO IS NEIGHBOURKOODS Lynne Woolstencroft makes Waterloo a place where people love to live and work Lynne has 30 years of local volunteer work and elected public service including nine years as a Waterloo City Councillor. Lynne is running for Mayor to build on existing relationships, keep business thriving and promote safe. lively neighbourhoods Your vote for Lynne Woolstencroft guarantees that she will continue her pioneering efforts to protect air and water quality in our city VOteLynne WOOLSTENCROFT for Mayor "We can do much more to improve our residents‘ quality of life." "Let‘s build a world class city." Tel 7467261 www lynnewoolstencroft com helps out. The highly accuâ€" rate assessment can tell peoâ€" ple whether they are sufferâ€" ing acute depression or something more serious. "What we‘re trying to do is help to do really early intervention, or prevention in some instances, so people don‘t go on to really develop fullâ€"blown clinical depresâ€" sion," said Anne Marie Webster, a mental health nurse at the hospital who is also the program‘s commuâ€" nity liaison and education facilitator. "The test really helps people to see that they just don‘t have the blues or sadness, but they‘ve got something that could be actual clinical depression. "If we can catch it when it‘s mild, we can give them some ideas of what they can be doing. And if it‘s moderâ€" ate, we can also help steer them in the right direction to see their family doctor or a counsellor. If it‘s severe we can get them right to treatâ€" "I think stigma prevents people from getting help more than anything." â€" Anne Marie Webster mental health nurse ment immediately so we don‘t have some of the horâ€" rific things happen that we‘ve been reading about in the media." Those events include Kitchener resident Bill Luft murdering his wife and four children before turning the gun on himself. There have been some suggestions that severe clinical depression had a part to play in the famâ€" ily tragedy. Webster said the blues are something all of us go through in reaction to things that happen in our lives. Clinical depression is more serious than that â€" it‘s a real illness that has to be treated accordingly. Clinical depression affects moods, thoughts and even _ bodily _ functions. There‘s also a persistence of the sadness that brought on some of those symptoms. When those symptoms are combined with thoughts or plans of suicide, the illâ€" ness has taken a turn for the worse. "Sadness or the blues rarely produces suicidal thoughts," said Webster. "With clinical depression, it can result in suicide." The level of treatment also varies with the level of depression. With clinical depression, counselling and medication is needed. Webster said one of the biggest reasons people conâ€" tinue to deny their depresâ€" sion is the stigmatization that goes along with mental illness. "The sad thing is that a lot of times in our society we thinks it‘s a sign of personal weakness, but unfortunately if you have clinical depresâ€" sion those symptoms can last for months and years." said Webster. "I tnink stigma prevents people from getâ€" ting help more than anyâ€" thing." There‘s also a lot of misâ€" understanding about the illâ€" ness in the general public. People just can‘t understand why people suffering from depression can‘t shake their dark mood. "People just suffer and suffer for months because they‘ve been afraid to say anything because people will think less of them," Webster. "They forget it‘s an illness. Just like diabetes is a disease of the pancreas, clinâ€" ical depression is a physical illness of the brain and it can be treated successfully." Those who want more information or help may call their family doctor Those with severe sympâ€" toms. including ideas or thoughts about suicide, may visit _ the Grand â€" River Hospital‘s _ Kâ€"W _ Health Centre for assessment "There are warning signs to mental illness," said Webster. _ "Knowing the symptoms are the first step to getting a diagnosis and treatment."