Teens Screened For Mental Health

Bainbridge Island Review (Bainbridge, WA): Bainbridge High School becomes the first school in Kitsap County to offer TeenScreen, a program designed to help prevent suicides and identify other mental health concerns in teens. “Leigh Manheim’s insistence and the support of the school board, the high school, Kitsap health district and Kitsap Mental Health made this possible,� said Clayton Mork, assistant superintendent of Instructional Support Services for the Bainbridge Island School District. TeenScreen is a voluntary survey that indicates “the likelihood that a teen is at risk for suicide or may be suffering from another mental disorder,� said Kelly Chatwood, whose position as the Kitsap County Health District’s Suicide Prevention Coordinator was established by Dr. Scott Lindquist, Kitsap Health District director. The process was explained to all the students, who also were told their parents might be informed of the results. Parents had to consent to their students’ participation and the students had to agree as well.