HEADSSS Screening

Question 1

What does HEADSSS stand for?

Answer 1

• Home
• Education/employment/eating
• Activities of peer group
• Drugs
• Sexuality
• Suicidality/safety

Question 2

What questions might you ask in a HEADSSS screen for “Home”?

Answer 2

• Who lives with you? Where do you live? Do you have your own room?
• What are your relationships like at home?
• To whom are you closest?
• To whom can you talk?
• Is there anyone new at home? Has someone recently left?
• Have you moved recently?
• Have you ever had to live away from home?
• Have you ever run away?
• Is there any physical violence at home?

Question 3

What questions might you ask in a HEADSSS screen for “Education/employment”?

Answer 3

• What are your favourite/least favourite subjects?
• How are your grades? Any changes?
• Have you changed schools in the past few years?
• What are your education/employment goals?
• Are you working? Where/how much?
• Tell me about your friends at school
• Is school a safe place?
• Have you ever had to repeat a class?
• Have you ever been suspended/expelled/considered dropping out
• How well do you get along with people at school/work
• Do you feel connected to people at school/work?
• Who can you talk to at school/work

Question 4

What questions might you ask in a HEADSSS screen for “Eating”?

Answer 4

• What do you/don’t you like about your body?
• Have there been recent weight changes?
• Have you dieted in the last year?
• Have you done anything else to manage your weight?
• How much exercise would you get in an average day?
• What do you think is a healthy diet? How does it compare to now?
• Do you worry about your weight?
• Do you eat in front of the TV?
• Does it seem like your eating is out of control?
• Have you ever made yourself throw up on purpose to control your weight?
• Have you ever taken diet pills?

Question 5

What questions might you ask in a HEADSSS screen for “Activities of peer group”?

Answer 5

• What do you and your friends do for fun?
• What do you and your family do for fun?
• Do you do any sports/have any hobbies?
• Do you attends any clubs/groups etc.
• Do you read for fun? Listen to music?

Question 6

What questions might you ask in a HEADSSS screen for “Drugs”?

Answer 6

• Do any of your friends use alcohol/tobacco/drugs?
• Anyone in your family?
• You?
• Is there a history of alcohol/drug problems in your family?

Question 7

What questions might you ask in a HEADSSS screen for “Sexuality”?

Answer 7

• Have you ever been in a romantic relationship?
• Tell me about the people you’ve dated
• Have any of your relationships been sexual relationships?
• Are your sexual activities enjoyable?
• What does the term “safer sex” mean to you?
• Are you interested in girls/boys/both?
• Have you ever been forced or pressured into something sexual?
• Have you ever been touched sexually in a way you didn’t want?
• Have you ever been raped?
• How many sexual partners have you had altogether?
• Ever been pregnant/got someone pregnant/worried about either?
• What are you using for birth control? Do you use condoms every time?
• Does anything get in the way of always using one?
• Have you ever had or worried about getting an STD

Question 8

What questions might you ask in a HEADSSS screen for “Suicidality/depression”?

Answer 8

• Do you feel sad or more down than usual?
• Do you find yourself crying more than usual?
• Are you bored all the time?
• Are you having trouble getting to sleep?
• Have you thought a lot about hurting yourself or someone else?
• Have you lost interest in things you used to enjoy?
• Are you spending less time with friends?
• Would you rather be alone most of the time?
• Have you ever tried to kill yourself?
• Have you ever tried to hurt yourself to make yourself feel better?
• Have you started using alcohol/drugs to help you feel better?

Question 9

What questions might you ask in a HEADSSS screen for “Safety”?

Answer 9

• Have you ever been seriously injured?
• Do you always wear a seatbelt?
• Have you ever ridden with a driver who was drunk or high?
• Do you use safety equipment for sports/other physical activities?
• Is there any violence at home? Physical violence?
• Is there a lot of violence between your friends? At school? In your neighbourhood?
• Have you ever been physically or sexually abused?
• Have you ever been in a car/motorcycle accident?
• Have you ever been picked on or bullied?
• Have you ever gotten into physical fights in school or your neighbourhood?
• Have you ever felt you needed to carry a knife/weapon/gun to protect yourself?