good in theory; poor in practice

jez responds to a NYT article about a government panel recommending that teens be screened yearly for depression, which is likely part of a yearly physical exam. however, the screening consists of a multiple choice questionnaire. as someone who has been administered this test on occasion, this shit is retarded. the questionnaire reads like it is straight out of Seventeen magazine: "do you feel like sleeping all the time" ; "do you feel like no one understands you"; "do you feel the world would be a better place if you weren't in it". And, for the specific version i took, it was a 1-5 ranking system with 5 being always and 1 being never, taken infront of an individual who was wholly convinced that i WAS infact depressed and that was the cause of my ailments (fun fact: i just had bronchitis and was/am a social inept loser) i am heartened to see an increased interest in the mental health of children and young adults, but without a serious update i don't feel like a multiple choice quiz is really going to delve into the trixy feelings that come with being a teen, young adult, or any one for that matter.