1. Does screening high school students for psychological distress, deliberate self-harm, or suicidal ideation cause distress--and is it acceptable? An Australian-based study.
- Author
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Robinson J, Pan Yuen H, Martin C, Hughes A, Baksheev GN, Dodd S, Bapat S, Schwass W, McGorry P, and Yung AR
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Depression diagnosis, Depression psychology, Humans, Male, Mass Screening adverse effects, Risk Factors, Self-Injurious Behavior psychology, Stress, Psychological etiology, Stress, Psychological psychology, Students psychology, Surveys and Questionnaires, Victoria epidemiology, Mass Screening psychology, Self-Injurious Behavior diagnosis, Stress, Psychological diagnosis, Suicidal Ideation
- Abstract
Background: Programs designed to detect students at risk of depression and suicidality have shown success (Shaffer et al., 2004)., Aims: The current study sought to examine whether or not such a program was acceptable to participants and whether or not it caused distress., Methods: Participants were boys aged 14 to 16. Participants were assessed using an on-line questionnaire; acceptability was measured via postal questionnaire., Results: Of 272 participants, 31 (11.4%) were considered at-risk; 13 required ongoing support, 8 of whom had not previously sought help. Overall screening did not appear to cause significant undue distress, although some differences were evident between at-risk and not at-risk students. All participants found the program acceptable., Conclusions: When conducted carefully, early detection programs can be an effective and acceptable method of identifying at-risk adolescents.
- Published
- 2011
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