Premium
Effectiveness of the Adolescent Depression Awareness Program (ADAP) on Depression Literacy and Mental Health Treatment
Author(s) -
Beaudry Mary Beth,
Swartz Karen,
Miller Leslie,
Schweizer Barbara,
Glazer Kara,
Wilcox Holly
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of school health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.851
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1746-1561
pISSN - 0022-4391
DOI - 10.1111/josh.12725
Subject(s) - curriculum , mental health , depression (economics) , psychology , mental health literacy , intervention (counseling) , clinical psychology , randomized controlled trial , literacy , psychiatry , medicine , mental illness , pedagogy , surgery , economics , macroeconomics
BACKGROUND Analysis of data from a NIMH‐supported study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the Adolescent Depression Awareness Program (ADAP) in promoting depression literacy and help‐seeking behavior. METHODS Eighteen Pennsylvania schools were matched on size, sex, race, test scores, median income, and free/reduced lunch status. Schools randomized to the intervention implemented ADAP as a compulsory part of the schools health curriculum, while control schools collected study measures. RESULTS Post‐randomization analysis revealed no significant differences by sex on the pre‐assessments between intervention and control schools. In the intervention schools, a total of 1427 students received ADAP. Written parental consent and adolescent assent was obtained from 33.7% students. The online REDCap survey was completed by 41.78% of the consenting students. The Adolescent Depression Knowledge Questionnaire (ADKQ) findings suggest that ADAP significantly improved depression knowledge (Est. =1.07, SE =.25, p < .001), compared to those in the control group. ADAP was found to facilitate help‐seeking behavior by student report in those participating in the REDCap survey 4 months following the ADAP curriculum. CONCLUSIONS Results of the survey suggests that ADAP facilitates help‐seeking behaviors in teens. This study supports the efficacy of a teacher delivered school‐based universal prevention program, ADAP, on depression literacy.