Utilization of Professional Mental Health Services Related to Population-Level Screening for Anxiety, Depression, and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Among Public High School Students

The study estimated the odds of receiving professional mental health treatment in the previous year, based on results from different mental health screening batteries: the CES-D 10 battery for depression screening, the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders, and the Primary Care Post-traumatic Stress Disorder screen. Overall, students with higher scores on screening instruments for depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and combinations of screening instruments were more likely to have sought past-year professional mental health treatment than non-symptomatic youth; however, the proportion of students screening positive and receiving professional treatment was low, ranging from 11 to 16 percent. This study emphasizes the need for broader evaluation of population-based mental health screening among adolescents. (Publisher abstract modified)