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Area residents asked to roll up their sleeves Locally, family physicians were expected to receive a supply of the vaccine no later than last Friday and will begin administering the shots by the end of the month. Several public flu clinics have also been planned.. vention. Flu shots are again being administered â€" for free across Ontario this year. T \cick hare) o Bâ€"L Motors Authorized BMW Resuiler â€" 5Z7 King St. N. Wat. Tolophons (519} 885â€"5090 Eâ€"moil info@bâ€"kunot The number of people being screened during the National Depression Screening Day, now in its 11th year, was almost double from last year with more than 40 people speaking with counsellors about their mental health issues. Last year 18 of the 25 people screened were referred for further help, a significant percentage, I ocal mental health profesâ€" sionals say we won‘t see the fallout of the Sept. 11 terâ€" rorist attacks on the U.S. for another month, but the number of people stopping by to ask quesâ€" tions about depression and other illnesses was up significantly from last year at a special depression screening day held by Grand River Hospital at Conestoga Mall last Thursday. _ Ann Marie Webster, a retired registered nurse who does special projects for the hospital, said that more than 130 people stopped by the clinic as part of the National Depression Screening Day, held annually during Mental Health Week. Most came by to ask general questions about mental health and depression, and Webster felt there was a better awareness of the problems that plague people after traumatic experiences like the destruction of the twin towers at the World Trade Centre. People of all ages â€" seniors and Looking For a New Number of people accessing depression screening clinic doubles since last year rea residents are being encouraged to roll up their sleeves for a shot of flu preâ€" By CaroLâ€"Ann Nucent For The Chronicle By Bos VrBanac Chronicle Staff Last year in Waterloo region, 139,000 people â€" oneâ€"third of the population â€" received a flu shot. There were 18 confirmed cases of the flu last year â€" a 75 per cent reduction from the year before. However, last year‘s strain was not as aggressive as the influenza strain of 1999. Ontario Ministry of Health and Longâ€"Term Care strongly recomâ€" mends flu shots for people 65 and older as they are most likely to experience serious consequences from the flu. children in particular â€" are encouraged to protect themselves against influenza. 5 UD Webster felt that . the informal setting _ Registered of the mall brought _ through th out people who _ Depression would generally not go to the hospital or their family doctor for such help. The informal mall setting helped relax them, and deal more honestly with the issues affecting them. After all, talking about depresâ€" sion and its symptoms is the most important thing that people sufâ€" fering from the illness can do, said Webster. The more awareness about depression, the less stigma associated with it. "I think the more we talk about these things openly, the more that people who are suffering will be That included a man who was told to check himself into the Crisis Clinic at Grand _ River Hospital that day, and a woman who was told to get immediate help for her husband who was experiencing suicidal ideation. said Webster. That percentage _ held true at this year‘s clinic, with 72 per cent of the people stopping by â€" for assessment referred for further counâ€" selling. Registered nurse Anne Marie Webster takes a volunteer through the screening process during the annual National Depression Screening Day held at Conestoga Mall last week. PAGE 3 The elderly and people with chronic medical conditions are particularly vulnerable to serious complications of influenza such as "Until about 10 years ago, a lot of people with cancer wouldn‘t tell other people about their diagâ€" nosis," she said. "Now they have support groups, and people come right out and tell you. Webster compared the current myths surrounding depression with the myths that once swirled around cancer. What was once kept in the shadows is now disâ€" cussed openly. able to talk about it and get help," said Webster. â€" Karen Quigleyâ€"Hobbs manager of immunization and vaccineâ€"preventable disease at the Waterloo Region community health department "You‘re not only protecting yourself, but the more vulnerable people in the community." "WantED: UsEDp Hot Tuss & SPpas" Is it time to retire your old tub? Your old spa or hot tub is a valuable tradeâ€"in! New spas offer full insulation & 10 year warranty! Finance plans available, no interest for 6 months Call for a FREE tub evaluation, no obligation "I think we‘ve come a long way, House of Cedar SuperStore 85â€"17 In general, research shows that the more devastating and terrifyâ€" ing the trauma is, the more vulâ€" nerable someone will be to develâ€" oping psychiatric symptoms. This is due to a lack of warning about the events, exposure and overexâ€" posure to the events, and fear that the traumatic event will continue or occur again. An extreme trauâ€" nteer matic event occurs lational when a person expeâ€" ast week. _ riences, sees, Of learns about a situaâ€" tion that involves actual or threatâ€" ened death or serious injury, or threats of physical harm to oneâ€" self or others. Vaccinating schoolâ€"ages chilâ€" dren has also been shown to preâ€" vent community spread of influenâ€" za, and reduce school absenâ€" teeism. Flu shots are recommended for children aged six months and older. . Children also benefit a great deal from a flu shot. According to the province, infection rates in children are much higher than in adults. bacterial pneumonia and worsenâ€" ing of existing chronic conditions. In some cases, the flu can lead to death. A normal person‘s response Children should not get a flu Information on coping with disasâ€" ters and traumatic events was also a key component of last week‘s screening session, in light of recent events in the U.S. Webster said the repercussions of the traumatic events of Sept. 11 won‘t start to appear until next month when people will start developing psychiatric sympâ€" toms. and [ think we‘re just starting to come along on mental illâ€" ness." Bâ€"K iotors Authorized BMW Retailer â€" 5Z7 King St. N. Weot. Tolaphone (519) 885â€"5090 Eâ€"mail info@bâ€"kmators.com Looking For a New Good mental health is not something to be afraid of. "They can help," she said. Webster also encouraged peoâ€" ple to seek the help of a mental health professional or a family doctor. Family doctors and local menâ€" tal health professionals have been issued information about how to cope with disaster, and are asked to keep an eye on their patients over the next few months. Patients are encouraged to talk about their feelings, return to their regular routines, eat, rest and spend more time with their family members and close friends. Understanding what people are feeling and taking positive steps can help them cope. _ But if symptoms such as shock, fear, disorientation, anxiety about the future, anger, depression last for several weeks, they may be signs of more severe mental health disorders. Those feelings can develop into mental health issues like acute stress disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse and addiction, depression and anxiety and even increased cases of domestic abuse. involves feelings of intense helpâ€" lessness, fear, or horror. Most of the reactions, while distressing, are healthy responses to the crisis and will resolve themselves in time. "You‘re not only protecting yourself, but the more vulnerable people in the community," she said. Karen Quigleyâ€"Hobbs, manager of immunization and vaccineâ€"preâ€" ventable disease at the Waterloo Region community health departâ€" ment, _ said _ officials hope even more people get a flu shot this year. shot if: they are less than six months old; they have a serious allergy to eggs or egg products; they have a severe allergy to any component of the vaccine; they had a serious reaction to a previous dose of the vaccine.