Abstract
Chronic illness and depression has become a major health concern among adolescents aged 10-18 in the United States. Those adolescents with coinciding issues are more likely to engage in risky behavior, use cannabis, smoke daily, and have high risk sexual encounters in conjunction with their depression (Suris, Michaud, Akre, & Sawyer, 2008). Approximately 2% of teens are screened for depressive disorders with the current national standards. These standards are massively lacking; up to 90% of teens with depression are undiagnosed. With the rising number of children with chronic disease, the medical system must be equipped to screen and manage the increasing number of individuals at risk for depression. The purpose of this project was to design and implement a depression screening protocol in an outpatient setting for adolescents suffering from inflammatory bowel disease. Over a 3-month period, patients meeting criteria were screened for depression using the PHQ-9A screening tool. The implementation of this screening tool identified at risk adolescents and was able to improve access to resources for mental health services.