National Initiative Launched for Early Detection of Teen Depression, Suicide Risk 2/20/2003
From: Rob Caruano or Adina Ellis, 212-260-3401, both for Positive Action for Teen Health WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 -- A groundbreaking initiative to offer voluntary screening for depression and suicide risk to every American teenager was launched here today by leaders in adolescent health and education. The national program -- Positive Action for Teen Health (PATH) -- builds on a decade of research by Columbia University that shows a simple confidential screening of teens is effective in detecting adolescents at risk for depression, suicide and other mental illnesses. Over 800,000 U.S. teens suffer from depression each year and more than 500,000 make a suicide attempt requiring medical attention. At today's National Press Club news conference, a survey of 900 U.S. parents with children 18 or younger was released. The survey demonstrates widespread need and support for a national screening effort. -- Four out of five parents say they are concerned about the problem of depression and suicide among teenagers. They believe this is both a public health and a public safety problem. -- Surprisingly, 90 percent of parents indicate they are confident in being able to tell if their child was depressed or thinking about suicide. Yet, in reality, only one-third of teens with mental health problems are known to parents or any adult. Parents of suicide victims often report there were no warning signs, and the survey indicates most parents today are unaware of reliable screening tests that can find teens at risk. -- When informed about the availability of proven screening tests, 74 percent of parents say it is important or very important for high schools to regularly screen all students and 73 percent would spend as much or more on screening as on drug prevention. -- While parents appear over-confident about their abilities to detect problems in their own children, 88 percent of parents do not think other parents can tell when teens are depressed. Dr. David Shaffer, Chief of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Columbia University, led the research effort to develop TeenScreen(r), a program capable of identifying youth at risk for suicide and mental illness. Dr. Shaffer said, "In an hour or less it is now possible to find young people with serious mental health problems, many who are suffering silently and don't know that what they are experiencing isn't normal." Laurie Flynn, director of the Carmel Hill Center at Columbia University and former executive director of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill is the National Director of PATH. Flynn said, "I hope parents will raise their voices and make sure that screening is available in their local high school. No parent should find out the hard way that there was an easier way to find out." Columbia University TeenScreen(r) Program Pledges Assistance to 400 Communities Columbia University officials, at today's news conference, announced the University would make available free screening materials and technical assistance for up to 400 sites across the U.S. and encouraged state and local education and health groups to apply. Qualifying communities will receive all screening and evaluation tools at no cost and are also eligible for free technical assistance on how to connect teens in need to community mental health services. The development of the TeenScreen(r) program and the PATH initiative is supported by private family foundation grants. No funds have been received from the providers or manufacturers of health services or products. Interested school districts, parents and community groups can find if their community qualifies for free screening support at http://www.teenscreen.org. Since 1991, the Columbia University Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry has invested nearly $19 million in the research and development of the Columbia TeenScreen(r) Program. So far, local screening programs have been implemented in 27 states involving schools and other community institutions. Terry Branstad, Bob Chase, Nancy Domenici, Patty Duke, Sylvia Nasar Join 32 Others on Council A national advisory council has been named to guide the work of the PATH effort. The council includes former Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, former National Education Association President Bob Chase, Nancy Domenici, actress Patty Duke, Nobel Laureate Dr. Eric Kandel, A Beautiful Mind author Sylvia Nasar, Vice Chairman of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Bob Nau, New York Presbyterian Hospital CEO Dr. Herbert Pardes, and Boys Town Director Father Val Peter. Branstad said, "States are struggling with a number of youth crises -- drugs, poor academic performance, violence and suicide. For many teens these issues are tied to an underlying mental illness. If we can get to the cause, we can solve a lot of problems." "When we talk about academic standards, we cannot leave the almost one million teens with depression behind," said Bob Chase. "Screening is a tool every district should be using to better understand why some students are struggling." A complete list of advisory council members is available at http://www.PATHnow.org. Statewide Drives Begin Local schools and community groups have started most existing screening programs. Statewide efforts to screen every teen are now underway in three states (Florida, Ohio and New Mexico), with more expected soon. Florida officials are working to incorporate screening into Governor Jeb Bush's drug and suicide prevention campaign. In Ohio, the state's department of mental health is developing a multi-county pilot program. In New Mexico, the state's school mental health officer is working to implement programs in urban and rural communities throughout the state. |