how do adolescents define depression? - cIRcle - University of ...

Chapter V: Discussion
depressed, may be an important component in connecting and communicating across cultures.
Cultural differences can include marginalized groups such as homeless adolescents.
Future investigations should continue cross-sectional designs and initiate longitudinal
designs to illuminate further relations among emotion understanding, social perspective
coordination, depressive symptomatology, and dimensions of conceptions of depression. More
particularly, longitudinal studies are relevant in distinguishing the relationships of cognitive,
emotional, and social development to adolescents' conceptions of depression. These factors can
be followed in terms of family structures, attachments, and practices in influencing development
in adolescents. The influence of cultural and family backgrounds cannot be overlooked in how
adolescents come to understand and conceptualize depression within their social and structural
world, recognize it in themselves, and develop their pathways to talking to someone when
depressed within their contexts.
Policy
The sheer scope of adolescent depression which overlaps intersectoral teams and
potential initiatives suggests that the task is complex, and decision-makers must attempt to be
comprehensive yet realistic. Decision-makers can build upon existing structures and expertise on
intersectoral teams to try to develop practice and funding strategies that not only provide
continuity of care but also depth of support at the different levels of practice and funding. Policy
should attempt to anchor partnering with universities, schools, and community. Funding
opportunities should be more available at the research level and training level within the
disciplines, inter-disciplines, and multi-disciplines. Decisions need to be inclusive of a more
complete understanding of the systems, as well as of the family working out towards the
community, and their interrelationships with each other. This type of decision-making can pave
the way to greater understanding of depression, other mental health problems, and harmful
behaviors. Understanding trauma, violence, victimization, stigma, school failure, and
underemployment may also help guide policy directions in the area of adolescent depression.
Practice
Practice itself may translate into different levels of intervention, which are implemented
at the right time and include various intersectoral partnerships that include: 1) universal approach
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