Support for Screening

With research continuing to show the importance of early identification of mental illness, momentum for mental health screening is accelerating. Federal agencies and health policy, mental health organizations, physician and medical organizations, education and advocacy groups support mental health screening for youth. A growing number of state agencies have also made screening a priority, spearheading strategies with community advocates to incorporate screening into teen suicide prevention programs.

Federal Agencies and Health Policy

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is an independent panel of private-sector experts in prevention and primary care. Its recommendations — considered the “gold standard” for clinical preventive services — now include mental health screenings for adolescents.

The Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council (IOM & NRC)
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) and the National Research Council (NRC) of the National Academies, which serve as the nation’s health advisors, recommend mental health screening for youth.

The Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act
The first legislation to direct federal funds towards community youth suicide prevention programs provides funding for state and local screening programs.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
The federal agency charged with improving the quality and availability of substance abuse prevention, alcohol and drug addiction treatment, and mental health services in the U.S. administers suicide prevention programs, including the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act.

New Freedom Commission on Mental Health
In July 2003, President Bush’s non-partisan New Freedom Commission issued a report stressing the crucial role voluntary mental health screenings can play in the early detection of mental illness.

National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP)
This online registry, a service provided through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), offers information about mental health and substance abuse programs, including TeenScreen, that have been reviewed and rated by independent experts.

Suicide Prevention Resource Center Best Practices Registry for Suicide Prevention (SPRC)
Developed by the SPRC and the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention, the national registry identifies, reviews and provides information about suicide prevention best practices, including evidence-based programs, expert and consensus statements and information about programs that meet criteria and safety standards.