SCREENING: Early Identification and Referral
Toolkit Sections
Like most public health problems, the prognosis for mental disorders is best when they are detected early in their course of development and subsequently treated appropriately. Unfortunately, sometimes mental illness festers because people are too ashamed to admit they need help. During this time the illness can become catastrophic, like a metastasized cancer. Treating a highly suicidal individual is much more invasive and complicated than treating someone early on in the development of the problem. Thus, just like breast and testicular cancer, frequent and regular screening can help catch problems early.
Workplaces can develop their own screening tool by partnering with Mental Health Screening: http://www.mentalhealthscreening.org/workplace/index.aspx
Individuals can assess themselves by taking these short screening tests for:
