Behavioral Health

As part of the Improving Community Health Survey, the Sinai Urban Health Institute asked respondents “Have you ever been diagnosed as being depressed?” in order to identify depression and potential depression rates.  Results found 20% of adults both in Humboldt Park and West Town to have such a diagnosis, the highest of all six communities assessed.  Researchers also administered the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) Scale, which consists of ten questions assessing depressive symptoms over the previous week.  Results found that 20% of Humboldt Park and 13% of West Town respondents screened positive for depression.  

These findings energized the Behavioral Health Task Force to prioritize and focus its efforts to raise awareness, provide outreach to community resources, and decrease the stigma related to depression in Greater Humboldt Park. The Task Force successfully organized a depression awareness week entitled, "Everyone Matters...Wellness as a Way of Life."  The week consisted of 6 different sessions from May 11th-16th 2009.  This week of activities and workshops reached over 300 participants and increased awareness of depression and anxiety and connected residents and service providers with depression related community resources. 

If you would like more information about the work of the Behavioral Health Task Force or to join, please contact Viviana Ploper at vivianaploper@c4chicago.org or Rebecca Gonzalez at rgonzalez@casacentral.org.