- NATIONAL TEENSCREEN PROGRAM The goal of the Columbia University TeenScreen Program is to ensure that all parents are offered the opportunity for their teens to receive a voluntary mental health check-up. The program’s primary objective is to help young people and their parents through the early identification of mental health problems, such as depression.....
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Ohio's TeenScreen Program
A collaborative partnership between the former Director of the Ohio Department of Mental Health, Dr. Michael Hogan and the Director of Columbia University TeenScreen Program, Laurie Flynn, resulted in a unique design for Ohio’s TeenScreen Program. Ohio is the only state to have an individual staff acting as a Statewide Program Coordinator. Ohio’s program began with a pilot effort by four Mental Health &/or Alcohol & Drug Addiction Boards in school year 2003-2004. Local Mental Health Boards were offered mini grants to collaborate with local mental health agencies and schools to implement TeenScreen in their local communities. Each year since the pilot additional Mental Health &/or Alcohol & Drug Addiction Boards have joined the effort to implement TeenScreen state wide.
Fairfield County
In a local Fairfield County high school, active parental consent forms were sent home with students in health class for parents to review and return. After receiving a parental consent indicating permission to screen, a high school student participated in a TeenScreen mental health check up. The results of the screening revealed that the youth was having suicidal thoughts and had attempted suicide several times. As part of the TeenScreen Program, the youth immediately met with a licensed mental health clinician to discuss the results of the screen. The clinician contacted the parent of the youth that same day and the mother was shocked to learn that her daughter had attempted suicide three times in the last week and that she was currently thinking of killing herself. Arrangements were made for the mother to come to school and take her daughter to an appointment for a psychiatric evaluation. As a result of the TeenScreen Program, the student is better able to communicate her feelings with her mother and other adults. She is thankful to TeenScreen for saving her life and helping her become a happier teenager.
Franklin County
A youth was missing school frequently as well as having anger outbursts both at school and at home. She admitted to using substances and that she was considering suicide. Upon visiting the nurse’s office at her local high school she was asked to participate in a TeenScreen mental health check up. The youth answered questions in the screen indicating that she may be a risk for social phobia, panic attacks, alcohol, marijuana, and other substance abuse. As part of the TeenScreen Program, the youth immediately met with a licensed mental health clinician to discuss the results of the screen. The clinician contacted the parent by phone that same day and the mother was very appreciative of the information and followed the clinician’s recommendation that her daughter receive a further mental health assessment. The parent was thankful her daughter had taken the screen.
Marion County
A youth in an area high school participated in TeenScreen during a study hall period and was found to be actively suicidal.The youth admitted that he had a plan to attempt suicide later that evening, and that he had come to school that day only because he had promised to take a test in his favorite teacher’s class. The youth’s parent was contacted immediately and the youth was taken for a crisis mental health assessment. The screening team in this school truly believes that the TeenScreen program saved this youth man’s life.
