Objectives of screening for depression in adolescents

Abstract

Depression is a major public health issue among adolescents. The Ministry of Education of China recently proposed to integrate depression screening into students’ school health-check among adolescents. However, there are inconsistencies regarding the strength of recommendation and implementation details of routine screening for adolescent depression across professional organizations and countries. This paper outlines the epidemiology and risk factors of adolescent depression and summarizes relevant international guidelines and recommendations. We suggest that before the national implementation of school-based depression screening, key issues including scientific evidence, execution details, resource allocation and ethical considerations need to be examined in close collaboration with all stakeholders. Systematic piloting followed by rigorous evaluation will also be needed.

Abstract

【摘要】 抑郁症是影响青少年身心健康的重要公共卫生问题, 教育部提出将其筛査纳人学生体检作为青少年抑郁症防治 工作的一环, 但目前各国及不同组织对青少年抑郁症常规筛査的推荐等级及执行细节等问题存在诸多不同意见。研究概 述了青少年抑郁的流行现况和危险因素, 总结国外相关指南及推荐意见, 提出开展基于学校体检的青少年抑郁症筛査仍需 社会各界深人密切协作, 在厘清筛査科学性、工作运行、资源配置和伦理等关键问题的基础上, 实行“试点先行, 分步实施, 家校配合”的策略, 以实现促进青少年心理健康水平提髙的最终目的。