title: Implementation of universal behavioral health screening in a university health setting.
abstract: Universal screening at university health centers can facilitate early identification and treatment of behavioral health problems common among college students. This article describes the (a) process of implementing behavioral health screening at a university health center and (b) results of universal screening for depression, suicidal ideation, alcohol misuse, tobacco use, and sleep problems. We discuss the decision points involved in screening, including what to screen for, whom to screen, how to implement the screening measure, and how to deal with patients who screen positive. During the Spring and Fall 2010 academic semesters, 4,126 screening questionnaires were completed by students (62% female) accessing a university health center. Each semester, 9-13% of students screened positive for depression, 2.5-3% for suicidal ideation, and 33-38% for alcohol misuse, while 10% wanted help with smoking cessation and 12-13% with sleep problems. The results suggest that behavioral health screening in a university health center can help identify students with behavioral health concerns to increase access to care.
authors.affiliation: Center for Integrated Healthcare, Syracuse Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 800 Irving Ave. (116C), Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA, robyn.fielder@va.gov.
authors.forename: Robyn L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Shepardson
authors.forename: Jennifer S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Funderburk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D009518:New York; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D013333:Student Health Services / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D055815:Young Adult; D000092864:Suicide Prevention