School-Based Screening to Identify At-Risk Students not Already Known to School Professionals: the Columbia Suicide Screen

Students from 7 high schools in the New York metropolitan area completed the Columbia Suicide Screen, 489 of the 1729 students screened had positive results. The clinical status of 641 students (73% of those screening positive & 23% of those screening negative) was assessed. School professionals, unaware of students’ screening & diagnostic status, were asked to indicate whether they were concerned about the emotional well-being of each participating student. Approximatley 34% of students with significant mental health problems were identified only through screening, 13.0% were identified only by school professionals, 34.9% were identified through both, & 18.3% were identified through neither. It is concluded school-based screening can identify suicidal & emotionally troubled students not recognized by school professionals. (25 refs.) JA

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