Insulted: Medical decisions are controlled by non-medical people.

[Cherokeegirl08]

So, do you think that asking every teenage kid a few vague questions like "do you OFTEN feel sad?" or "do you feel like you won't enjoy doing your homework more than 3 days every week" within so-called "depression screen" tools is correct? As you probably know, no teenager ever feels like life is really good 100% of the time; it is more often than not sucks full way for them. For the last 100.000 years it was seen as a nature of growing up, now we "screen" these kids and start to load at least thrid of them with meds which potential actions for developing brain is completely unknown and won't be known for the next 30 to 50 years.

Do you REALLY think it is good?

My pediatrician asked me those questions as a teen, and let me tell you, he literally saved my a#$. I doubt I'd be here if he'd have hesitated to ask. If it saves one teen's life in the future, it's worth it.

I came from what people call a "good family" yet no one saw what I was going through. It's like that for millions of teens. Someone has to ask those questions.

[RobbiRN, RN]

My pediatrician asked me those questions as a teen, and let me tell you, he literally saved my a#$. I doubt I'd be here if he'd have hesitated to ask. If it saves one teen's life in the future, it's worth it.

I came from what people call a "good family" yet no one saw what I was going through. It's like that for millions of teens. Someone has to ask those questions.

I agree we should ask. I don't think mandatory questions for everyone are the way to do it. The basic assumption is that we will not ask unless forced to do so. The truth is we are there to help and will ask appropriate questions in situations where they are indicated without wasting every patient's time and our time in situations when the questions are redundant or obviously unnecessary. I'm glad he asked, cared and saved you. That is our calling.