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

Chapter V: Discussion
which includes mental health promotion; 2) a selective intervention approach for early detection
where timing is important and for those adolescents with subthreshold depressive
symptomatology; and 3) clinical interventions for those adolescents diagnosed with threshold
criteria for depression according to the DSM-IV-TR (APA, 2000). The individual, family, peers,
school personnel, the community organization personnel, and practitioners are integral to the
practice process. It is important for family members, peers, teachers, and practitioners to realize
that although adolescents' growth in cognitive, social, and emotional capacities expands at this
time, emotional and social belonging in a nurturing context are central in helping to decrease
vulnerability to depression. In connecting universal to clinical intervention strategies, it is
important to consider that most adolescents' conceptions of depression were covert states (e.g.,
sadness) rather than overt states (e.g., Appetite/Weight/Sleep Changes); hence approaches that
highlight covert or internal strategies would be appropriate.
Depressed Mood is one of the two key categories in which most adolescent boys and girls
generated their conceptions of depression. Sadness, followed by Irritability, were the two
prominent subcategories of Depressed Mood. Gaining understanding of what depressive
symptomatology means to adolescents, can be translated into universal interventions such as
mental health promotion, selective programs, as well as clinical intervention strategies. Using
adolescents' own conceptions of depression fosters better communication with adolescents. For
example, the 10 subcategories of Depressed Mood can enhance clarity in helping the process to
communicate to them about Depressed Mood. Further, adolescents' definitions of depression in
Depressed Mood, the covert subcategory Inner Pain and the overt subcategory Depressed
Appearance, may be more accurate than the label "sad" in descriptions of depressive
symptomatology. Communicating to adolescents using their conceptions of depression can apply
to all three levels of intervention strategies.
Social Impairment is the second of the two critical categories in which most adolescents
generated their definitions in. Social Impairment includes Behavioral Disconnection, Lonely, and
Perceived Disconnection, as the focal subcategories of this category. As social impairment is a
key defining conception of depression, universal programs, selective programs, and clinical
intervention can promote social connectedness in a caring context. Social connectedness would
need to include emotion awareness and emotion expression strategies where social
connectedness can thrive. Achieving social connectedness would need to include provision of
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