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Dayton Daily News education reporter Scott Elliott writes about schools, kids, teaching and learning.
Home > Blogs > Get on the Bus > Archives > 2005 > November > 14
Monday, November 14, 2005
TeenScreen responds
I’ve been getting a ton of comments about my post on TeenScreen. And last week, the paper got an email from Leslie McGuire, who directs the program at Columbia University. Here’s her view:
I would like to correct some important inaccuracies about the TeenScreen program in Scott Elliott’s October 28th column, “Computer: your kid has disorders.”
TeenScreen is not a diagnostic tool or “test.” Rather, it is a screening method that was developed in response to research revealing that 90 percent of youth who die by suicide suffer from a diagnosable mental illness at the time of their deaths. The program screens for the risk factors that are associated with depression and other mental illnesses but it does not make a diagnosis.
The TeenScreen Program does not involve treatment and does not recommend or endorse any particular kind of treatment for the youth who are identified as at risk by the screening. Parental consent is required for students to participate in the screening and the results of the screen are confidential.
Parents of students considered at risk are informed and given help connecting to a health or mental health provider for a complete evaluation, should they wish to pursue this option.
The national TeenScreen Program is funded by private philanthropic individuals and organizations that are committed to the early identification of mental illness in youth and the prevention of teen suicide. The program is not affiliated with or funded by pharmaceutical companies.
Suicide is the second-leading cause of death among teenagers in Ohio. In any other area of medicine, if the cause of 90 percent of the mortality associated with a particular illness were known, we would certainly implement widespread screening for the associated risk factors.
Why shouldn’t we do the same to ensure the mental health of our youth?
Leslie McGuire
Director Columbia University TeenScreen Program
Permalink | Comments (54) | Categories: Student Health and Safety
