Beating the Blues
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A Program has been developed to prevent and reduce depression among young people.
As part of a $5.2 million partnership with beyondblue: the national depression initiative, UQ School of Psychology researchers have developed a school-based program giving adolescents skills to deal with life's challenges.
"We want to provide knowledge and awareness through a school and community approach that will help to build individual resilience and harness the good work schools already do in this area," said Program Chief Investigator Professor Sue Spence.
Titled the beyondblue schools research initiative, the program involves 50 schools nationally, including 18 in Queensland.
It uses a multipronged approach including: curricula-based programs in the classroom; identifying pathways to care; community forums with key partners such as health services and community groups; and a whole-of-school approach focused on enhancing more supportive environments.
Professor Spence said the broad base of the research and the whole-of-school and community approach was unique in addressing adolescent depression.
"This type of work coming out of UQ and Australia is leading the way in the prevention of depression," she said.
The three-year project focuses on adolescents in Year 8, following them through to Year 10.
