Free, confidential depression screenings will be offered Thursday to adults and children in the Howard County community.

The screenings will be in the first floor classroom of Scenic Mountain Medical Center from 10 am. to 2 p.m. Screenings will be provided by professionals from West Texas Centers for MHMR and Big Spring State Hospital.

The two mental health agencies and Scenic Mountain Medical Center’s Reflections Gero-Psych programs are sponsors for this year’s screenings.

Screening tools are available for young children, teen-agers, young adults, adults and the elderly population. A Spanish version also is available.

Participants are provided with a written questionnaire in which they fill out before reviewing their answers with a licensed professional mental health worker. As the two dialogue in a private atmosphere, participants are provided with additional information in response to their answers.

The depression screenings are a good service to the community because it saves people time who may not sure their feelings of sadness warrant a trip to the doctor’s office.

Screeners emphasize that the appointment is not a substitute for a doctor’s evaluation.

A list of physicians and service agencies are provided at the conclusion of the screening along with materials on depression and other mood disorders.