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Feature
ADOLESCENT WELL-CARE: Surveillance and Screening
Community Care of North Carolina and Community Care Partners of Greater Mecklenburg
There are two assessments that are components of the adolescent well-visit — and both are recommended in the NC 2018 Health Check Program Guide.
STRENGTHS AND RISKS: DEPRESSION:
Bright Futures Fourth Edition emphasizes a strengths-based approach Both Bright Futures and the USPSTF (U.S. Preventive Services Task
at all well-visits and recommends a psychosocial assessment at all Force) recommend routinely screening adolescents for depression starting
well-visits. In the early years of the NC CHIPRA Grant, a survey of at age 12. Depressive symptoms and depression itself are common in
adolescents across the state regarding their health care, revealed that being adolescents (depression—up to 6 percent; 20 percent will have at least one
asked about what was going well and goals for the future is a priority episode of major depression before age 18). Additionally, suicide is the
for adolescents (not just being asked about what is going wrong). For second leading cause of death of youth ages 10-17.
adolescents, assessing for risks and strengths is a key part of the well-visit.
Tools: PHQ-2/PHQ-9 Modified for Adolescents. To assess for suicidality
Tools: Bright Futures Supplemental Adolescent Questionnaires, – SAFE-T (Suicide Assessment Five-step Evaluation and Triage), SBQ-R
the RAAPS (Rapid Assessment for Adolescent Preventive Services), (Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised), SIQ (Suicidal Ideation
and HEADSSS. Questionnaire).
Coding: 96160 – health risk assessment Coding: 96127
See the CCNC Pediatrics: Adolescent Depression: Screening, Follow-up and Co-management Guidelines for an office process
algorithm. The toolkit also contains information on SSRI use in pediatric primary care, and on referral to, and communication with, mental health
professionals. Find the guidelines at https://www.communitycarenc.org/sites/default/files/2018-01/adolescent-depression-toolkit-april-2017.pdf.
Reading as an Anxiety and
Depression Prescription
The Smithsonian Institute, Huffington Post and Boston Globe suggest
that reading is an excellent way to reduce stress. A study from the
University of Sussex found that reading for pleasure can reduce
stress up to 68 percent. Want to relax? Here are some suggestions:
Read something for fun.
Read about topics you enjoy.
Read articles or books on your hobbies.
Want to know more? Here are a few links to explore:
www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/doctors-are-now-prescribing-books-to-treat-depression-180948211/
www.huffingtonpost.com/healthline-/five-ways-reading-can-imp_b_12456962.html
nationalreadingcampaign.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/ReadingFacts1.pdf
www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/reading-stress-relief
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