Public Relations and Communications
Practice Directorate

Shame, fear and embarrassment often prevent people from seeking treatment for anxiety disorders. That's why APA is encouraging mental health professionals to participate in a year-round anxiety disorders education campaign.

As part of this effort, APA recently joined forces with the National Mental Health Association (NMHA) in its National Anxiety Disorders Education Campaign. APA is providing support by coordinating year-round screenings and recruiting psychologists to volunteer as screeners, serve as mental health experts for the media and speak to local organizations about anxiety disorders.

The goal of these screenings is to identify and begin treating anxiety disorders, while helping to erase the stigma that often accompanies them. "The more screenings we hold, the more people we can reach and help convince that getting therapy is nothing to be ashamed of, " says Jan Peterson, director of public relations and special projects.

Mental health professionals interested in taking part in this year-round effort should contact Tricia Alvarez in the Practice Directorate's public relations and communications department at 202.336.5910.

Volunteers are also needed to provide screenings for next year's National Anxiety Disorders Screening Day, May 5, 1999. This year's screening day was extremely successful, with approximately 50,000 people screened at more than 1,500 sites throughout the nation.

In Pennsylvania, more than 30 members of the Pennsylvania Psychological Association hosted screening sites around the state at clinics, private practice offices, schools and hospitals. Well over 600 people took advantage of the free service. "Many thanks go out to our members who gave so much of their time and energy to make this day so successful," said Dr. Judith Blau, chair of the public information and marketing committee.

Practitioners interested in participating in next year's NADSD should contact:

Freedom from Fear
308 Seaview Ave.
Staten Island, NY 10305
718.351.1717

The deadline is fast approaching for the new National Alcohol Screening Day (NASD), which will take place on April 8, 1999, during Alcohol Awareness Month. More than 1,500 sites around the country will offer free screenings for alcohol abuse during this first-of-its-kind screening day.

The purpose of NASD is to promote awareness, identification and treatment of alcohol problems. Practitioners, alcohol treatment centers, hospitals and colleges are all encouraged to register as official screening sites.

NASD is being organized by the National Mental Illness Screening Project (NMISP) in partnership with the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. APA is one of the sponsors of NASD, along with APA's College of Professional Psychology.

The deadline to register as a site for the April 8 event is February 1, 1999. For more information contact: NMISP/NASD One Washington St., Suite 304 Wellesley Hills, MA 02481-1703 781.239.0071 www.nmisp.org

Remember - keeping APA's public education campaign on the front burner is key to building momentum and sustaining activity throughout the nation.

Watch for special Campaign Alerts in the upcoming months, which will include event ideas, background information on specific topics, sample materials such as letters to the editor, press releases, and more. Campaign Alerts will center around National Awareness activities and will be delivered about two months prior to the event to allow ample time for local planning.

Following are key awareness dates in 1999:

February

• Eating Disorders Awareness Week (February 2000)
• National Heart Walk (February 21)
• American Heart Month

• National Nutrition Month

• National Child Abuse Prevention Month
• National Cancer Control Month
• National Alcohol Screening Day (April 8)

• National Mental Health Awareness Month
• National Anxiety Disorders Screening Day (May 5)
• Older Americans Month

• Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
• National Cholesterol Education Month

• Breast Cancer Awareness Month
• Mental Illness Awareness Week (October 3-9)
• National Depression Screening Day (October 7)
• Family Health Month
• National Youth Health Awareness Day (October 20)

• National Alzheimer's Awareness Month
• Great American Smoke Out (November 18)

Watch your mail in January for special kits about how to get involved. For more information about how you can take part in the APA/MTV teen, anti-violence campaign contact: Jennifer Zabriskie at 310.274.8787, ext. 121.