Asia Pacific Journal of Pediatric and Child Health

Abstract Ref Number = APCP172

Invited Speakers

MENTAL HEALTH SCREENING IN ADOLESCENTS: HOW URGENT THE NEED?

YUDIANITA KESUMA Adolescent Working Group Indonesia Pediatric Society Pediatric Department Medical Faculty UniversitasSriwijaya Moh Hoesin Hospital Palembang

Worldwide 14-20% of adolescents met the criteria of mental disorders. About 75% of these patients are seen in primary care settings. Half of all mental illnesses begin by the age of 14 and three-quarters by mid-20s. Neuropsychiatric conditions are the leading cause of disability in young people in all regions. Many teens are involved in Health Risk Behaviors as per the 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey.Risk behavior such as violence/injuries, drank alcohol, drug abuses, sexual behaviours, tobacco uses.Consequences of these risk behaviors: Car accidents, suicide, homicide, Sexually Transmitted Infection, teen Pregnancy, health problems both chronic and acute, death: Teens now higher than children (Lancet study). Illnesses can hinder their ability to grow and develop to their full potential. The mortality rate decreased from 126 to 111 per 100.000 between 2000 and 2012. This modest decline of about 12% continues the trend of the past 50 years. Mortality rates dropped in all regions and for all age groups except 15–19 year old males in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Americas regions. The leading causes of death among adolescents in recent years were: road injury, HIV, suicide, lower respiratory infections, and interpersonal violence. Mental Health Screening should not just be reserved for routine health maintenance appointments.Promoting healthy practices during adolescence, and taking steps to better protect young people from health risks are critical for the prevention of health problems in adulthood, and for countries’ future health and social infrastructure. There are many reasons to screen teens for these problems: early detection of mental health problems, early detection of health risk behaviors, avoiding the consequences of mental health problems and health risk behaviors, providing safe and comprehensive medical care, avoiding unnecessary tests and correctly diagnosing problems, finding the “hidden agenda”.Teens should be screened for health risk behaviors and mental health problem

Keywords: Adolescence, Mental health Adolescent, Screening adolescents.