News & Press

Community Wellness: Anonymous online screening can be first step in substance use disorder intervention

By Robert Lathers, LMSW
CEO, The Right Door for Hope, Recovery and Wellness

Posted Apr. 8, 2016 at 8:41 PM 

 

Many people in our community, and in communities across the country, struggle with the “co-occurring” problems of mental illness and substance use. More than 1 in 4 adults living with serious mental health problems also have a substance use problem. Substance use problems occur more frequently with certain mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, schizophrenia and personality disorders.

For some people, substance use occurs as a result of a mental illness; while for others, mental illness is the outcome of substance use. Both these illnesses are serious and sometimes recur, but they are treatable. Online screenings can be an effective first step in substance use disorder intervention. As with other illnesses, early intervention can significantly increase recovery.

April 7 was National Alcohol Screening Day. It’s an annual event aimed at increasing public awareness and bringing attention to the needs of those with alcohol (and other substance use) disorders and their families by providing anonymous screenings for substance use, including alcohol, and connecting more people with treatment. But if you missed April 7, you can still take advantage of anonymous alcohol and other substance use screenings during the entire month of April. Take an online screening by visiting www.HowDoYouScore.org.

The screening, which only takes a few minutes, consists of a series of questions designed to indicate whether symptoms of a substance use disorder are present and if clinical help is needed. After completing a screening, participants receive immediate feedback and referral information for local resources that offer further evaluation and treatment.

Completing these screenings will help you determine if your recent thoughts or behaviors may be associated with a common, treatable mental health issue. These screenings can’t be linked to any one individual, so you remain anonymous.

The tool is provided by Screening for Mental Health, Inc. (SMH), which provides innovative mental health and substance abuse resources and programs, offered both online and in-person, to educate, raise awareness and screen individuals for common mental and behavioral health disorders, and suicide. For more information about Screening for Mental Health, visitmentalhealthscreening.org.

Robert Lathers, LMSW, is the CEO of The Right Door for Hope, Recovery and Wellness, formerly Ionia County Community Mental Health. His email address is rlathers@rightdoor.org. He welcomes your comments and questions. If you have a mental health emergency, call 911 or our 24-hour crisis line at 1-888-527-1790. Visit The Right Door online at www.rightdoor.org and find us on Facebook. Beginning Saturday, April 23, The Right Door in Ionia will be open every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.