Alcohol Awareness Month continues with National Alcohol Screening Day. Held annually on Thursday of the first full week of April, National Alcohol Screening Day falls on April 10 in 2014.
Sponsored by Screening for Mental Health (SMH), National Alcohol Screening Day raises awareness about alcohol misuse and encourages those with alcohol problems to seek help by combining free alcohol screenings with alcohol outreach and education. While the screening results are not a definitive diagnosis, they can identify signs and symptoms of alcohol problems and refer those who need a professional assessment and treatment to organizations that can offer help.
According to SMH President and CEO Douglas Jacobs, MD, online self-assessments and other forms of screening can help resolve mild to moderate alcohol problems and even encourage those with alcohol addiction to seek help. Taking an alcohol screening can also help you assess why you are misusing alcohol. Because alcohol is often related to other mental health conditions, taking a self-assessment can help you find out if there’s a deeper problem, such as depression.
Understanding that different groups have different needs and experiences, SMH offers screenings for the military and their families, college students, and the general public. SMH also offers screening programs for the workplace.
If you feel you might have an alcohol abuse problem or addiction, we encourage you to visit www.helpyourselfhelpothers.org, where you can take a free, anonymous alcohol assessment online or find a nearby in-person screening event.
The online assessment at the above website is accessible and free all year round. If you or a loved one show signs of alcohol misuse, please take the anonymous assessment at any time. By taking a self-assessment, you are taking the first step towards getting better and living a healthy, happy life free from the consequences of heavy alcohol use.