An integrated, multidisciplinary, early identification, and triage program for university students at risk of anxiety and depression: a best practice implementation project.

Introduction: Rising mental health issues among university students in the United States may significantly affect their academic progress, contributing to a variety of negative outcomes, ranging from poor academic performance to forced attrition.

Objective: This study evaluated the implementation of an evidence-based practice (EBP) interdisciplinary approach to universal proactive mental health screening and triage at a university student health center (SHC).

Methods: Using the Knowledge to Action framework, a comprehensive program was developed to identify and triage university undergraduate students at risk of mental health conditions, to address a gap between current practice and emerging EBP. Potential barriers to implementation were identified and strategies were developed to improve the translation of knowledge to practice. A retroactive chart audit was used to evaluate the effectiveness of practice improvements.

Results: EBP interventions were implemented to proactively identify and triage mental health concerns in students, with positive results. Provider compliance with assessment and referral was 100%. Further studies are needed to assess long-term effectiveness.

Conclusion: Our results confirm the usefulness of a comprehensive, proactive mental health program for detecting and triaging undergraduate students at risk of anxiety and/or depression. This interdisciplinary approach has the potential to address mental health issues among college students in a timely fashion and to best steward limited campus resources.

Spanish abstract: http://links.lww.com/IJEBH/A327.