About CONTACT
CONTACT is the empowering link for Greater Dallas residents who want help to resolve a problem or crisis. We are unique among Greater Dallas crisis prevention and intervention organizations because we offer three empowering services – 24/7 free, confidential help lines in English and Spanish staffed by trained, compassionate and nonjudgmental specialists; immediate emergency support; and unique crisis prevention outreach programs.
We are best known for immediately providing assistance and linking people to the right resources so they can move from breaking point to turning point. We are a trusted, nationally accredited and model agency. We are passionate about what we do and offer the right resources to truly make a difference. We are always here for anyone who needs help to find their way.
Answering more than 40,000 calls a year CONTACT is one of only 10 crisis centers nationwide to provide services to the Spanish speaking community. Each year CONTACT averages more than 1,500 suicide interventions; makes more than 15,000 referrals to other DFW Metroplex resources; and educates more than 7,000 teens, teachers, counselors and parents about depression, suicide, mean girls, bullying and dating violence.
About Depression
Signs and Symptoms
For a doctor or other health professional to diagnose depression, most of the following signs and symptoms also must be present for at least two weeks.
- Sleep disturbances. Sleeping too much or having problems sleeping can be a sign you’re depressed. Waking in the middle of the night or early in the morning and not being able to get back to sleep are typical.
- Impaired thinking or concentration. You may have trouble concentrating or making decisions and have problems with memory.
- Changes in weight. An increased or reduced appetite and unexplained weight gain or loss may indicate depression.
- Fatigue or slowing of body movements. You feel weariness and lack of energy nearly every day. You may feel as tired in the morning as you did when you went to bed the night before. You may feel like you’re doing everything in slow motion, or you may speak in a slow, monotonous tone.
- Low self-esteem. You feel worthless and have excessive guilt.
- Less interest in sex. If you were sexually active before developing depression, you may notice a dramatic decrease in your level of interest in having sexual relations.
- Thoughts of death. You have a persistent negative view of yourself, your situation and the future. You may have thoughts of death, dying or suicide.
Depression can also cause a wide variety of physical complaints, such as gastrointestinal problems (indigestion, constipation or diarrhea), headache and backache. Many people with depression also have symptoms of anxiety.