TeenScreen

TeenScreen is a mental health and suicide risk screening program for teenagers. It was developed by the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Columbia University. The program was designed to identify mental health issues in adolescents, including depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. The program has been implemented in schools, primary care clinics, and other community settings across the United States.

Overview

The TeenScreen program was developed in response to the high rates of undiagnosed mental health issues in adolescents. The program uses a two-step process to identify at-risk youth. First, a computerized questionnaire is administered to assess risk factors and symptoms. Those who score above a certain threshold are then interviewed by a mental health professional for further evaluation.

Effectiveness

Several studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of the TeenScreen program in identifying adolescents at risk for mental health issues and suicide. However, the program has also been criticized for potentially over-identifying at-risk youth and for not having a clear protocol for follow-up care.

Criticism

Critics of the TeenScreen program argue that it may lead to over-diagnosis of mental health issues and unnecessary medication of adolescents. There are also concerns about the lack of a clear protocol for follow-up care for those identified as at risk.

See also

• Mental health
• Adolescent psychiatry
• Suicide prevention

References

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