Classroom-based prevention programs for depression and suicide among adolescents

HASS, M (MICHAEL)¹, KILE, S (SHERILYN)¹, , ,
¹Chapman University

 

Submission type

Oral and Poster

Scheduled

Room 112, 12-07-2019, 14:00 - 15:30

Keywords

ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH, SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH, CLASSROOM-BASED PREVENTION PROGRAMS, DEPRESSION, SUICIDE, MENTAL HEALTH LITERACY

Summary

Epidemiological data suggest that internationally, between one in five children or adolescents suffer from a diagnosable mental health disorder in a given calendar year.  Among these disorders, depression accounts for about 40% of the global burden of disease attributed to mental illness and the WHO estimates that in the year 2021, depression will be the second largest contributor to the global burden of disease.  Depression is often linked to suicide and globally, it is the third leading cause of death among adolescents.

The rising cost of health care, medication, and shortages of trained practitioners has sparked an interest in prevention programs that address some of the known risk and protective factors before children develop full-blown disorders that require time-consuming and expensive interventions at the individual level.

This workshop will focus on the efficacy of mental health literacy programs that target depression among adolescents in school.  Participants in this workshop will gain information regarding existing literature on depression and suicide in adolescents and the efficacy of teacher-led prevention programs.  Participants will also gain knowledge of the specific elements of classroom-based strategies that appear most effective for reducing rates of depression and suicide.

 

Auteurs