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Demand high for new screening tool to ID mental health issues

Deseret News (UT) - 10/9/2015

SALT LAKE CITY - So many Utahns accessed a new online self- screening tool that helps users find appropriate behavioral health services that the website temporarily crashed Thursday on its first day of operation.

"We had to devote some additional bandwidth and additional server space to handle the huge influx of hits to the website. We had no idea we'd get that much traffic," said Jeff Marrott, public information officer for the Utah Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health.

Access to the site, http://screening.mentalhealthscreen ing.org/ stateofutah, was restored within an hour, he said.

The site is available 24/7 to anyone with an Internet connection. It uses an evidenced-based assessment tool designed to allow users to anonymously screen themselves for a variety of mental health and substance use disorders. The screening takes two to three minutes.

Although 1 in 4 adults in the United States struggle with mental illness, the majority do not access treatment, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"In our digital world, individuals often seek out sensitive information online because they are hesitant to talk to someone about their potential need for help," said Pam Bennett, program administrator for the state Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health.

"We hope those who believe they are at-risk of a mental health or substance use disorder will access this tool as a credible source to start their path to healing and find local services and resources for treatment," she said.

The site was launched Thursday in observance of National Depression Screening Day.

Once users complete a series of questions developed by experts, the site leads them to appropriate referrals, which can range from links to educational resources to referrals to mental health or substance abuse treatment providers for further evaluation.

The site also instructs people experiencing emergencies to call 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Ginger Phillips, a certified peer support specialist, said the site will likely attract many youths and young adults who feel comfortable seeking information and resources online.

"Anything that will help us reach out to people, I think it's great," she said.

She has one concern, however.

"I would hope for people using this site that the resources are actually a place accepting patients right then," she said. Some peers with mental illnesses she works with have recently endured three- or four-week waits for appointments with some providers.

"There's positive and negative. The more ways we can reach people, great. I like the more personal aspect of talking to people I actually see or know," she said.

Tim Whalen, Salt Lake County's director of behavioral health services, said stigma about mental illnesses and substance use disorders persist so any effort to raise awareness and direct people to resources that can help is welcome.

"This is a health issue. If you're depressed, feeling down and you're not dealing with life like you feel you should, there's ways to get help. I think that's a good thing," he said.

In Salt Lake County, help is also available 24/7 from the University Neuropsychiatric Institute's CrisisLine at 801-587-3000.

Email: marjorie@deseretnews.com