TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Behavioral Health Screen Overview
• Behavioral Health Screen Domains & Versions
• Individual Results (BHS Summary)
• Summary Results
  • Instructions/Verification
  • Critical Items
  • Risk Behaviors
  • Risk Scoring
  • Strengths 

Behavioral Health Screen Overview

The Behavioral Health Screen (BHS) is a comprehensive screening instrument covering multiple domains of physical, mental, and behavioral health.

• Identifies Critical Items:  suicide, violence, gun access,...
• Automatic Scoring:  depression, suicide, anxiety, trauma, substance use, eating disorder, social determinants
• Identifies Risk Behaviors:  safety, substance use, bullying,...
• Identifies Strengths:  school/grades, job, exercise,...

It was developed, validated, & clinically tested by experts at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania, and Drexel University.

The BHS is in use across the United States in both medical and non-medical settings, including:

• Healthcare:  hospitals, emergency departments, primary care
• Mental/Behavioral Health:  counseling centers, crisis
• Schools:  elementary, middle, high, college/universities
  
• Workplaces:  employee screening and benefits

Behavioral Health Screen Domains & Versions

Individual Results (BHS Summary)

Summary Results

Instructions/Verification

Displayed for the provider, regardless of answer.

• Are you currently seeing a doctor, counselor, or therapist for a problem with how you have been feeling, thinking or behaving?
• If you have come here today with a parent, guardian, or other adult, is it ok for them to be in the room when we go over your answers with you?
• Number of questions chose not to answer ("I can't answer because...")

Critical Items 

Displayed only if endorsed (e.g., patient reports hearing sounds or voices that other people could not see or hear).

• SAFETY 
  • Is there a gun in your home? (and suicide ideation)
• SUICIDE
  • In the past week, including today:  have you thought about killing yourself?  
  • In the past week, including today:  did you have a plan to kill yourself?
  • Have you ever tried to kill yourself? 
  • In the past week, including today:  have you tried to kill yourself?
• SELF-HARM 
  • In the past week, including today:  have you physically hurt yourself even though you had no plan to kill yourself (for example, cutting)?
• PSYCHOSIS
  • During the past year, how often have seen things or hear sounds or voices that other people could not see or hear?
  • During the past year, how often did you feel that you were not in control of your own ideas or thoughts or that your mind was playing tricks on you?
• PHYSICAL/SEXUAL ABUSE 
  • Has anyone ever forced you to do something sexual?
  • If yes, has this happened in the past year?
  • Have you ever been physically or sexually hurt by an adult who lives in or frequently stays in your home?
  • If yes, has this happened in the past year?

Risk Behaviors 

Displayed only if endorsed (e.g., safety, substance use, tobacco).

• SAFETY 
  •  Is there a gun in your home? (and no suicide ideation)
• SCHOOL
  • Why are you not currently attending school?
  • During the past year, how often have you skipped school or cut class?
• HOME 
  • How often is there arguing in your home?
  • Are you concerned about someone in your family because they use alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, or other drugs regularly?
• SAFETY
  • During the past year:  how often have you worn a seatbelt when you were riding in a car?
  • During the past year: how often have you been in a car when you or the driver had been using alcohol, marijuana (i.e., weed, pot, blunts) or other drugs?
• SUBSTANCE USE
  • In the past 30 days, how many days have you:  used tobacco? 
  • In the past 30 days, how many days have you:  used alcohol?
  • In the past 30 days, how many days have you:  used marijuana?
  • Have you ever used any other type of substance or medicine to get high or relax?
• SEXUAL ACTIVITY 
  • The last time you had sex, did you or your partner use something to prevent pregnancy?
  • Have you ever been pregnant?
  • When you have sex, how often are you using a condom?
• EATING  
  • How often do you try to control your weight by making yourself throw up?
• SELF-HARM 
  • Have you ever physically hurt yourself even though you had no plan to kill yourself (for example, cutting)?
• PHYSICAL HARM
  • During the past year, have you had a physical fight with someone who is not your parent or guardian?
• PHYSICAL/SEXUAL ABUSE
  • During the past year, have you been physically or sexually hurt by a romantic partner?
• BULLYING 
  • How often do you feel kids tease you, make fun of you, or ignore you? 
  • How often do kids physically hurt you or threaten to hurt you?
  • How often are you cyber bullied (e.g., chat rooms, Facebook, instant messaging, text messages on your cell phone)?
  • You said that you were at least sometimes (alone, teased, physically threatened, or cyber bullied). How upsetting are these kinds of experiences for you?

Risk Scoring 

For key behavioral health conditions including depression, anxiety, PTSD, eating disorders, and substance misuse.

Strengths 

E.g., grades, exercise, employment

• SCHOOL/GRADES 
  • Are you currently attending school, or planning to return in the fall?
  • Why are you not currently attending school?
  • What are your grades currently like?
• JOB 
  • Do you currently have a job?
• EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES 
  • Do you currently have a regular volunteer or extracurricular activity?
• SUPPORT 
  • How often do you talk with an adult family member about things that are bothering you?
• SAFETY 
  • When you have sex, how often are you using a condom?
• EXERCISE 
  • On average, how many hours per week have you exercised enough to sweat and breathe hard?