It can be difficult to differentiate between the effects of mental illness and dementia in senior citizens. Misdiagnosis is common between the two conditions because of their similar signs and symptoms, such as confusion and mood swings.
National Depression Screening Day is held annually on the Thursday of the first full week in October, is an education and screening event conducted by hospitals, clinics, colleges, and community groups nationwide.
Much like the medical community screens for diabetes and high blood pressure, advocates would like to see large-scale mood disorder screenings for the public.
October 10 is World Mental Health Day. It is a day for mental health education, awareness and advocacy to fight social stigma. World Mental Health Day was first observed in 1992 at the initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH), a global mental health organization “founded in 1948 to advance, among all peoples and nations, the prevention of mental and emotional disorders, the proper treatment and care of those with such disorders, and the promotion of mental health.”