AUSTIN, TX – Doctors are being encouraged to screen all teens for depression.
The American Academy of Pediatrics released new guidelines on Monday. They recommend doctors screen all young adults ages 12 to 21 every year.
Doctor Brian Temple, a pediatrician at Beansprout Pediatrics, said he sees a lot of kids with mental health problems, but the problem is that not all are tested.
"We're missing 50 to 60 percent of kids and their depression,” said Dr. Temple. “Teenagers are especially good about hiding their thoughts and feelings from their parents, from their teachers, and from their pediatricians, so screening helps opening up the conversation."
A parent of two teenagers told KVUE in the age of social media, there's a lot of pressure that comes with being a teen. So, when it comes to having teens routinely screened for depression, she's all for it.
"I think we need to remove any type of stigma concerning mental health,” said Lourdes Shoaf. “I mean, it's just wrong. We need people like our pediatricians, our family practitioners to evaluate … and to let children know it’s okay.”
Dr. Temple said the earlier teens are screened the better.
"If you can identify and treat a mental health problem prior to the brain solidifying, you have statistically far better chance of not having a recurrence of mental health issues in the future," he said.