Youth Depression in School Settings: Assessment, Interventions, and Prevention

• Published in: Child and adolescent psychiatric clinics of North America Vol. 28; no. 3; p. 349
• Main Authors: Joshi, Shashank V, Jassim, Nadia, Mani, Nithya
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.07.2019
• Subjects: Adolescent; Child Welfare; Depressive Disorder, Major - diagnosis; Depressive Disorder, Major - prevention & control; Depressive Disorder, Major - therapy; Humans; Mass Screening; School Health Services; School-based mental health; Well-being promotion; Depression prevention in schools; Suicide prevention; Depression in schools
• ISSN: 1558-0490
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chc.2019.02.017

In this article, the authors make a compelling case that all clinicians who treat youth with depressive disorders should embrace strategies to engage with school staff to best serve their patients in the classroom. Because these disorders have a high incidence in the school population (13% of US teens experienced at least 1 major depressive episode in 2016), this can affect learning, social interactions, and classroom engagement. Several approaches are highlighted for assessment of depressive symptoms, intervention and treatment in school settings, and prevention strategies, including depression education curricula and programs promoting subjective well-being, such as positive psychology and mindfulness.