HOW ADOLESCENTS CAN HELP EACH OTHER THROUGH TEEN DEPRESSION
There’s an old saying that it takes one to know one, and many times teens can be more perceptive about what their peers are going through than others. Now according to a new study, kids in high school can “improve their peers’ understanding of depression and their attitudes about seeking help for themselves and others,” as a report in Futurity tells us.
Ten high schools were polled for this study, where students and teachers were both interviewed, and it resulted in a new program called the Peer to Peer Depression Awareness Campaign. Out of nearly 900 students polled, they felt that after this learning campaign they could better recognize the signs of depression in themselves and their peers, and have a better understanding of it.
These students also had a better understanding of depression, that it’s not a matter of willpower, and felt less embarrassed about asking people for help. And with depression often beginning when people are young, heading it off at the pass will be better for teens in the long run.
As the lead author of this study says, “Depression often starts early in life, so our efforts should match that. Providing education and advice on recognizing depression and anxiety, and destigmatizing it, begins in the schools.
This study also recommends being a “peer advocate” for teens suffering from depression. With teens working together with the school faculty, teens suffering from depression will have more support in identifying their troubles and getting help quickly.
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