Best Practices for Depression Screening Among College Students: A Literature Review

Area of Science:

• Mental Health
• Public Health
• Higher Education

Background:

• Alarming rates of depression in college students, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Need for effective screening and referral processes in campus health settings.
• Growing demand for mental health services among young adults.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current best practices for depression screening in college students.
• To identify evidence-based strategies for identifying depression in this population.
• To inform the development of robust campus mental health protocols.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature search across PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, and Cochrane databases.
• Screening of 775 studies, with 17 articles included in the final review.
• Systematic review of evidence on depression screening tools and referral pathways.

Main Results:

• Evidence supports universal depression screenings for college students.
• Brief and online screening methods are effective.
• Validated tools like the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-2 and PHQ-9 are recommended.
• A proper referral process and access to treatment are critical.

Conclusions:

• Implementing universal depression screening is vital for college health centers.
• Effective screening and referral systems are essential to address student mental health needs.
• Campus health services must ensure adequate access to mental health treatment.