DaVita Helps Raise Awareness of Mental Illness During Mental Health Month

DaVita offers resources for patients with mental illness

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May 12, 2017, 15:06 ET

DENVER, May 12, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- DaVita Inc. (NYSE: DVA), a leading independent medical group and a leading provider of kidney care services in the United States, joins the efforts of Mental Health America's annual May Is Mental Health Month to help raise awareness of the importance that mental health plays in individuals' overall well-being.

One in five adults in the U.S. experiences a mental illness in a given year, or nearly 44 million Americans.

Research shows that people with chronic medical conditions, such as chronic kidney disease, have a higher risk of depression, a common, but serious, mood disorder. If left untreated, depression may lead to a complication of chronic health conditions, reduced quality of life and increased risk of mortality.

"It is important to understand the significant role that mental health plays in an individual's overall health and know when certain behaviors are potentially signs of something more," said Duane Dunn, director of social work services at DaVita. "We need to bring awareness to the benefits of intervention and how integrated services work to help those who are struggling with mental illness."

DaVita social workers screen patients for depression twice a year in an effort to ensure patients are receiving the best possible quality of care and living the highest quality of life.

The Everett Clinic, a DaVita Medical Group, offers several support groups and workshops designed to help patients suffering from mental illnesses. These offerings range from a Teen Skills Group, offering help to youth with mental illness, to a Living with Chronic Conditions workshop.

About DaVita Inc.
DaVita Inc., a Fortune 500® company, is the parent company of DaVita Kidney Care and DaVita Medical Group. DaVita Kidney Care is a leading provider of kidney care in the United States, delivering dialysis services to patients with chronic kidney failure and end stage renal disease. As of March 31, 2017, DaVita Kidney Care operated or provided administrative services at 2,382 outpatient dialysis centers located in the United States serving approximately 189,400 patients. The company also operated 162 outpatient dialysis centers located in 11 countries outside the United States. DaVita Medical Group manages and operates medical groups and affiliated physician networks in California, Colorado, Florida, Nevada, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Washington in its pursuit to deliver excellent-quality health care in a dignified and compassionate manner. As of December 31, 2016, DaVita Medical Group's teammates, employed clinicians and affiliated clinicians provided care for approximately 1.7 million patients. For more information, please visit DaVita.com/about.