Michelle Scott, MSW, PhD¹, David Shaffer, MD¹, and Holly Wilcox, PhD². (1) Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Columbia University: College of Physicians and Surgeons, 1051 Riverside Drive, Unit 78, New York, NY 10032, 212-543-6087, scottm@childpsych.columbia.edu, (2) Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins University, 624 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205

This study examines the proportion of suicidal teens identified by the Columbia Suicide Screen who are already known to school mental health professionals and the demographic and mental health characteristics of known-suicidal teens. Reports on 1729 suicidal- and non-suicidal- high-school-students’ emotional status were completed by school administration and mental health staff within 1 month of screening. Data from the teens’ original screen and school personnel’s reports were analyzed. 41.7% of the 298 teens who reported current suicidal ideation and/or prior attempts were known to at least 1 school staff. 67% of 61 teens who reported both suicidal behavior and had a formal mental health diagnosis were known. Suicidal teens who were known to a school professional had requested help for an emotional problem (OR =3.12; 95% C.I. = 1.9 – 5.0), were in the clinical range on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI; OR = 3.99; 95% C.I. = 2.4 -6.5), and reported a greater number of emotional problems (OR= 1.49; 95% C.I. = 1.2 – 1.8). Demographics did not predict whether a suicidal teen was known to school professionals. Factors predicting whether a suicidal teen with a formal mental health diagnosis was known to school professionals included clinical BDI score (OR = 6.89; 95% C.I. = 2.7 – 17.4); number of emotional symptoms (OR = 1.7; 95% C.I. = 1.3 -2.4); number of formal diagnoses (OR= 1.8; 95% C.I. 1.3 – 2.6); and older age (OR = 1.5; 1.1 -2.0). Implications for the importance of school-based screening are discussed.

Learning Objectives:

• 1)Describe the efficacy of Columbia Suicide Screen in identifying new teens at risk for suicide
• 2)Identify the characteristics of at risk teens who are not known to school professionals

Keywords: Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Screening Instruments

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.