The Necessity of Mental Health Screenings Within Schools Suicide, now among the leading causes of death among children, teens, and young adults, has become a nationwide epidemic that has become increasingly controversial and problematic. As children, teens, and young adults traverse through life, mental health problems will often arise and are suspect to flourish and take over their lives ' as well as the lives ' of those close to them. These issues often arise due to the complex nature of the brain and how it develops, introducing environmental issues such as academics, peer pressure, and college only increases the probability of developing depression and/or suicidal thoughts among these groups. As someone who recognizes the large impact
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The incorporation of mental health screenings within schools and colleges will provide for self-assessments, leading troubled students to seek treatment from mental health professionals. Mental health screenings are very useful in identifying and diagnosing mental illnesses, which can then allow those inflicted with access to much needed treatment. For example, consider the case of Nicholas McCullough, at the time a teenage student, responded to his depression by taking a screening test, regulated and administrated by the school. Upon seeking treatment, McCullough and his parents responded, “"it clicked that I wasn 't in a good way and I hadn 't thought about how serious it was getting." His answers identified him as needing follow-up with a professional, and he and his parents agreed that he should see a local therapist and take certain medications” (Landro). McCullough, now 23, has received the treatment that he needed and now lives a successful life. This has been and can be the case for many, upon a nationwide decision to incorporate mental health screenings within schools and colleges. These treatment options have been proven, through various studies and researching, to be linked to decreased rates of depression and suicide. Furthermore, studies from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other agencies have found concluding evidence regarding the use of antidepressants and various other medications to a steep decline in depression and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. “The new report found increasing rates of treatment, as well as a falling rate of serious impairment across the board”
The incorporation of mental health screenings within schools and colleges will provide for self-assessments, leading troubled students to seek treatment from mental health professionals. Mental health screenings are very useful in identifying and diagnosing mental illnesses, which can then allow those inflicted with access to much needed treatment. For example, consider the case of Nicholas McCullough, at the time a teenage student, responded to his depression by taking a screening test, regulated and administrated by the school. Upon seeking treatment, McCullough and his parents responded, “"it clicked that I wasn 't in a good way and I hadn 't thought about how serious it was getting." His answers identified him as needing follow-up with a professional, and he and his parents agreed that he should see a local therapist and take certain medications” (Landro). McCullough, now 23, has received the treatment that he needed and now lives a successful life. This has been and can be the case for many, upon a nationwide decision to incorporate mental health screenings within schools and colleges. These treatment options have been proven, through various studies and researching, to be linked to decreased rates of depression and suicide. Furthermore, studies from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other agencies have found concluding evidence regarding the use of antidepressants and various other medications to a steep decline in depression and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. “The new report found increasing rates of treatment, as well as a falling rate of serious impairment across the board”