For National Depression and Mental Health Screening Month this October, Brain-Body Therapy Founder Rio Wilson Urges Americans to Add a Mental Health Screening to Their Fall Health Appointments

This October, as flu shot and annual physical season peaks, Wilson makes the case for checking in on emotional health too

TAMPA, Fla., Oct. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Brain-Body Therapy, a mental wellness app that pairs structured movement with guided dialogue, is marking National Depression and Mental Health Screening Month by encouraging Americans to ask about depression screening at their fall health appointments. Founder and CEO Rio Wilson is calling for mental health conversations to become a routine part of overall care, and for people to pair professional support with everyday wellness tools like Brain-Body Therapy.

As Americans schedule checkups and prepare for the busy holiday season, Wilson is encouraging them to make room for conversations about mood, energy, sleep and emotional well-being. A health appointment is an opportunity to discuss how you are feeling mentally as well as physically.

"We make appointments to check our blood pressure, our cholesterol and other parts of our physical health, but how often do we talk about how we are actually feeling?" states Rio Wilson, Founder and CEO of Brain-Body Therapy. "A mental health screening can help start that conversation. You do not have to wait until things feel unmanageable to ask for support."

Depression Is More Common Than Many People Realize

Depression rates in the U.S. remain at historic highs. According to Gallup's 2025 National Health and Well-Being Index, 18.3% of U.S. adults report currently having or being treated for depression, an estimated 47.8 million Americans. Among adults under 30, the rate has more than doubled since 2017, rising from 13% to 26.7%.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends depression screening for all adults, including pregnant and postpartum people and older adults. Because of that recommendation, the screening is covered under the Affordable Care Act at no cost to the patient. It is usually a short questionnaire completed during a routine primary care visit, and patients do not need to have symptoms to ask for one. A screening is an initial step rather than a diagnosis, and positive results should be followed by further evaluation and appropriate care.

Why Everyday Wellness Tools Matter

A screening is one moment on one day. The weeks that follow are where many people lose momentum. Wilson is urging Americans to treat wellness tools as part of their mental health plan, in the same way they would use a fitness tracker or a sleep app, and to ask their provider how movement can fit into their care.

Research supports that approach. A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis published in The BMJ, involving 218 studies and more than 14,000 participants, found that activities including walking or jogging, yoga and strength training can help reduce depressive symptoms.

Brain-Body Therapy is built for exactly that follow-through. The app's workouts are intentionally designed for people struggling with their mental health, and it is built so that no thinking or decision making is required. Each session runs in three steps: opening guidance, a 30-minute workout and a closing reflection. Users follow a personalized 12-week plan with a session library, a cardio timer, recommended target heart rate guidance and strength training guidance from Director of Fitness Luke Lombardo. A progress bar tracks sessions completed, celebration screens mark milestones, and when a user falls out of routine, the app sends encouragement notifications inviting them back.

"When depression makes it difficult to get started, being told to 'just exercise' can feel like one more thing you are struggling to do," Wilson continues. "Brain-Body Therapy tells you the plan, notices when you have been away and welcomes you back without judgment."

Brain-Body Therapy is a mobile app, found on iOS and Google Play, that supports everyday mental wellness alongside professional care. It does not replace clinical screening, diagnosis, psychotherapy or medication when needed. Anyone in crisis can call or text 988.

For media inquiries surrounding Brain-Body Therapy or to schedule an interview with Rio Wilson, please contact BPM-PR Firm at [email protected], call 1.877.841.7244, or visit www.brain-bodytherapy.com.

About Brain-Body Therapy

Brain-Body Therapy is an innovative mental wellness platform that combines clinically informed guidance with personalized movement to help users manage anxiety, depression and everyday stress. By bridging the gap between mind and body, the app turns research into simple, actionable programs designed to make mental health support more accessible, engaging and effective. The app is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play. For more information, visit www.brain-bodytherapy.com.

Media Contact:

BPM-PR Firm
Media Contact: John Roth
[email protected]
1.877.841.7244

SOURCE Brain-Body Therapy