5 mental health screening kiosks now in Montgomery County

AMBLER, Pa. (WPVI) -- Montgomery county is taking an innovative step to reach those in need of mental health care.

One of 5 MindKare health kiosks was officially unveiled today at the Ambler YMCA.

MindKare was launched by Screening for Mental Health, a Massachusetts-base non-profit which is the driving force behind National Depression Screening Day.

"You can go into a grocery store for e blood pressure screening. Why not a mental health screening," says Candice Porter, executive director of Screening for Mental Health.

Since going into operation a few weeks ago, 160 people have used the freestanding station to take an anonymous question-and-answer test.

"Inside the machine is a suite of screenings that will screen for anxiety, PTSD, alcohol and substances abuse, bipolar, and depression," says Porter.

The booth also points users to local help.

In addition to the Ambler Y, kiosks are at Montgomery County Community College, the Norristown regional health center, Manna on Main Street in Lansdale, and at Einstein Physicians Collegeville in Collegeville.