In recognition of National Mental Illness Awareness Week, Horizons Mental Health Center is offering the public free, alcohol-use self-assessment on their website at www.hmhc.com.

All assessments are taken anonymously and are not diagnostic. Rather, the assessments provide an individual insight as to whether or not their drinking habits are negatively impacting their health, and offers available resources for further evaluation if necessary.

Teryn Irvin, Coordinator of Prevention, Education & Outreach at Horizons Mental Health Center, a Member of the Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System, explains how alcohol is widely used and socially acceptable, yet so many people don’t understand their own drinking habits and behaviors.

“Research indicates that screening and brief intervention can help resolve mild to moderate alcohol problems as well as encourage those with more serious problems to seek treatment,” Irvin adds.

The U.S. government defines a standard drink as one that contains 14 grams of pure alcohol. Low-risk drinking is considered to be two drinks per day for men, and for women, one drink per day. Low-risk drinking means drinking in a way that minimizes negative consequences in the short or long term. It does not mean “safe” drinking. Anything beyond this recommended limit is considered to be “at-risk drinking,” and could potentially affect one’s overall health.

That is why it is advisable for anyone who consumes alcohol to take an anonymous screening for alcohol use at www.hmhc.com. By answering a series of simple questions, people can get a good idea of whether they are showing symptoms of an alcohol problem or if their consumption of alcohol is negatively impacting their health.

Horizons Mental Health Center provides comprehensive mental and behavior healthcare services to people living in Barber, Harper, Kingman, Pratt and Reno Counties.