Depression knowledge in high school students: effectiveness of the adolescent depression awareness program
Abstract
Background Major depression is a common disorder among teenagers and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among 15-24 year olds. Early identification and treatment is essential to prevent suicide. Depression education is a potential intervention for improving knowledge about depression and help-seeking behavior.Methods The Adolescent Depression Awareness Program (ADAP) is a school-based depression education intervention with a core message that depression is a treatable medical illness. 710 high school students from six schools in Tulsa, OK participated in the study comparing changes in knowledge about depression and attitudes toward treatment-seeking between students receiving the intervention and those who did not. Changes in depression knowledge and attitude toward help-seeking were measured using the ADAP Depression Knowledge Questionnaire (ADKQ).Results There was a significant positive change in ADKQ score for students receiving the intervention but not in the control group. The intervention group also demonstrated a significant difference in willingness to "tell someone" if concerned about depression in a peer, which was not present in the control group.Limitations The students were not randomized to the intervention and control groups. The ADKQ evaluates attitudes about help-seeking but not behavior.Conclusions A school-based educational intervention improved knowledge about depression and attitudes toward help-seeking in adolescents. Future studies should investigate if such change in knowledge results in help-seeking behaviors.
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Ruble et al. found increased intention of help-seeking from others after the intervention.
“Ruble et al., [96] found increased intention of help-seeking from others after the intervention (t = 13.658/ p < 0.0001.).”
Five interventions explicitly targeted help-seeking for depression in school-based settings.
“Five interventions explicitly targeted help-seeking for depression in school-based settings their focus being to educate the school population about adolescent depression and thereby encourage help-seeking [94–98].”
In one US sample, in 1996 compared with 2006: 46% and 47% of the public respectively were unwilling to work closely with someone with depression; and 33% and 32% of the public respectively thought persons with depression were violent toward others.
“For example, in one US sample, 346 in 1996 compared with 2006: 46% and 47% of the public respectively were unwilling to work closely with someone with depression; and 33% and 32% of the public respectively thought persons with depression were violent toward others.”
From Time for united action on depression: a Lancet–World Psychiatric Association Commission (2022) · cites this paper as [346]
Those members of the public endorsing neurobiological models of depression were three times more likely than others to report that persons with depression were violent toward others.
“Those members of the public endorsing neurobiological models of depression were three times more likely than others to report that persons with depression were violent toward others. 346”
From Time for united action on depression: a Lancet–World Psychiatric Association Commission (2022) · cites this paper as [346]
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References 28 · Cited by 43
- Authors
- Ruble, A. E., Leon, P. J., Gilley-Hensley, L., Hess, S. G., & Swartz, K. L.
- Affiliations
- Johns Hopkins University (US)
- University of Utah (US)
- Greater Baltimore Medical Center (US)
- Corresponding author
- Swartz, Karen L.
- Venue
- Journal of Affective Disorders
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2013-09
- Volume
- 150
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 1025-1030
- ISSN
- 0165-0327 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2060791083
- Cited by
- 43
- References
- 28
- Citations by year
- 2025: 5 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 1
- FWCI
- 4.00
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Affective Disorders (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- University of Oklahoma
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Speech and Hearing › School Health and Nursing Education
- Keywords
- adolescent depression, depression knowledge, help-seeking attitudes, suicide prevention, high school students, help-seeking, peer disclosure
- MeSH terms
- Suicide Prevention, Adolescent, Adolescent Behavior, Awareness, Major Depressive Disorder, Depressive Disorder, Major, Female, Health Education, Health Promotion, Humans, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Male, Peer Group, Surveys and Questionnaires, Schools, Students
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