A recent study published in the journal Pediatrics suggests many more teenage girls in the U.S. may be experiencing major depressive episodes at this age than boys. And the numbers of teens affected took a particularly big jump after 2011, the scientists note, suggesting that the increasing dependence on social media by this age group may be exacerbating the problem.

To read more click the link:http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/02/13/514353285/depression-strikes-todays-teen-girls-especially-hard

Kids Have Hope presents Darkness to Light’s program to raise awareness of the prevalence and consequences of child sexual abuse. During this workshop you will learn how to keep children protected while listening to real stories of sexual abuse and expert advice from psychologists, police officers, case workers, doctors, and others.

Many health professionals report having little time, training, tools, and treatment resources to conduct screening and brief interventions for adolescents’ use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends adolescent substance use screening and education as part of routine care, using the universal Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) process developed by SAMHSA.

Kognito’s SBI with Adolescents is a conversation simulation designed to prepare health professionals to screen young patients for substance use, conduct brief interventions using evidence-based principles of motivational interviewing, and, when necessary, refer patients to further support. This simulation helps practitioners learn basic facts about adolescent substance use, as well as techniques to screen patients and conduct brief interventions to drive positive change in health behaviors.

You can now use the Kognito simulation for no cost as part of the SBIRT@LUC Training Program!

LEARNING OBJECTIVES 

 Screen patients using evidence-based tools

 Conduct brief interventions using motivational interviewing

 Make collaborative action plans with patients

 Refer patients to treatment service and follow up on referrals

SIMULATION FEA TUR E S 

 Available online 24/7

 Completion of the program includes continuing education credits (CEUs) for health professionals

 Kognito hosts the program on its secure web server and provides technical support for users

LOG IN INFORMATION 

 Create an account: kognitocampus.com

 Enrollment key: loyolasbi

For additional information on the SBIRT@LUC Training Program, please contact Dr. Michael Dentato, Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work at Loyola University Chicago and SBIRT@LUC Program Director at 312.915.7030 or mdentato@luc.edu. 

This training is made freely available to all schools and community based partners across Chicago through the SBIRT@LUC Training Program and SAMHSA grant ID# DHHS SAMHSA H79 TI026444.

This simulation was developed in collaboration with NORC at the University of Chicago with support from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.

Any routine assessment of at-risk youth must evaluate substance use, depression, and ideas of self-harm and suicide. Here are a few questionnaires and tools that can make the process measurable. Measuring depression periodically will give you feedback on the effectiveness of the treatment being offered and alert you of any red-flag areas.

Here are some standardized tools to help you:

1. Patient Health Questionnaire-(PHQ-9) a standard depression assessment tool-http://www.integration.samhsa.gov/images/res/PHQ%20-%20Questions.pdf
2. COLUMBIA-SUICIDE SEVERITY RATING SCALE http://www.integration.samhsa.gov/clinical-practice/Columbia_Suicide_Severity_Rating_Scale.pdf
3. Suicide assessment five step evaluation and triage (SAFE-T) offers guidelines on inquiring and assessing risk for suicide http://www.integration.samhsa.gov/clinical-practice/safe-t_card.pdf