NAMI Talk On Depression, Diagnosis, Treatment March 7

FAIRFIELD — On Wednesday, March 7, Lateef Habib LCSW, BCD will be NAMI Fairfield’s Speaker of the Month when he talks about “Depression: Diagnosis and Treatment.” Mr Lateef is the Clinical Coordinator for Outpatient Services in the Department of Psychiatry at Norwalk Hospital.

NAMI is the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Its goals are to support those living with mental illness and their loved ones, to provide educational programs to the community that foster understanding and healthy living, and to provide advocacy.

Feeling down from time to time is a normal part of life. But when emptiness and despair take hold and will not go away, it may be depression.

Learning about depression — including its signs, symptoms, causes, and treatment — is the first step to overcoming the problem. Depression is a chronic illness that exacts a significant toll on America’s health and productivity, affecting more than 21 million American children and adults annually and is the leading cause of disability in the United States for individuals ages 15 to 44.

Mr Habib will offer an interesting case study approach to depression, elaborating on symptoms of depression and explaining different types of depression such as unipolar depression and bipolar depression.

He will also discuss various treatments. Following his presentation, there will be an opportunity for questions from the audience.

A graduate of Siena College, with a bachelor of arts degree in psychology, Mr Habib obtained a master of science degree in social work from Columbia University. He appears frequently on television programs and makes presentations to the public on mental health topics.

A member of the Department of Psychiatry at Norwalk Hospital since 2001, he is on the Catchment Area Council with the Southwest Regional Mental Health Board and has contributed articles to various publications. And he frequently volunteers as a mental health professional at health fairs and in community outreach programs.

The meeting will be held in the Eliot Room Library, First Church Congregational, 148 Beach Road from 7:30 to 9 pm. It is open to the public and free of charge.

Light refreshments will be served. For information, call 203-650-3463. In case of inclement weather, call for program confirmation.