TEENAGER SCREENINGS WINDING DOWN

Screening of Potter County teenagers for signs of mental health problems and suicide risk is winding up in the coming weeks.

Ninth-graders and 11th-graders in each of Potter County's high schools have been participating in "TeenScreen." It's a national program that offers parents the opportunity for their teenagers to receive a voluntary mental health checkup.

Potter County Human Services staff is conducting the screening following training by Columbia University.

One in ten American children and adolescents suffers from mental illness and experiences impairment, but only 20 percent of them receive treatment.

TeenScreen does not involve diagnosis or treatment. In the first stage, teens complete a questionnaire. Those results may lead to an interview with a mental health professional. That determines whether a voluntary referral for a complete mental health evaluation is warranted.

Parents are being given an information packet and a consent letter which they must sign for their child to participate. Teens whose parents have given their consent must also agree to the screening.

TeenScreen is a confidential process. School personnel or others are not given access to records unless there is a crisis.

Screenings have taken place so far at Austin, Coudersport, and Northern Potter. Students will be screened this week in Galeton and next week at Oswayo Valley.

Additional information is available toll-free from Mary Freeman or Crystal Morales at Potter County Human Services, 1-800-800-2560.