Widmeyer Research in Action

Columbia University's Teen Screen Program

A vast majority of teens with depression will go undiagnosed and untreated, even though simple screening tools can identify teens most at risk for depression and suicide. Columbia University’s Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry is partnering with schools and communities across the nation in its TeenScreen program which offers teens a voluntary “mental health check up.”

In order to renew media attention in an existing but expanding program, the Widmeyer team coordinated a variety of activities including special events, a new Web resource and a national public opinion poll. 

The “Parents on Teen Mental Health” poll discovered that parents overestimated their own ability to spot depression and suicide risk. Parents also wanted schools to play a larger role in identifying students at risk. Widmeyer’s research findings helped generate significant news coverage of this vital issue in the national news and in four target states.