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

Chapter V: Discussion
secure and caring environments for young people, such as the schools these adolescents attend
and spend a substantial portion of their life in. Perhaps adolescents who identify themselves as
depressed may have lost a sense of connectedness. For example, if an individual gets along with
his or her peers, we may be less concerned about selective intervention strategies. However, it is
important to note that sadness or social impairment provides a lens to recognize the symptoms in
their light with due care but does not necessarily provide the right to direct or act in ways that
impede their process. Care must also be taken in not labeling one as depressed when one
disengages from social contact. As another example in connection with clinical intervention
strategies where social impairment is seen as important to adolescents, meaningful interpersonal
strategies need to be developed where social reconnection with social support system is
strengthened, and may be useful in this type of intervention. It is striking that depression resides
within the individual yet so much of its focus is about the interpersonal interactions.
Adolescents' other prominent conceptions of depression such as Suicidal, Anxiety
Symptoms that include being Anxious/Stressed and Fear, Low Self-Worth, and Contextual can
have implication for all three intervention strategies. Depression is often accompanied by other
factors that can range from harmful behaviors to other disorders such as anxiety (Armstrong &
Costello, 2002). These categories can also serve as meaningful markers to adolescents and
practitioners. Translation of these concepts can be implemented in universal programs such as
mental health promotion, as well as in selective intervention strategies. For example, the
subcategory Anxious/Stressed can serve as a context for intervention strategies that include
selective intervention in school-based programs that focus on stress management and are likely
to target individuals with stress. This model may be more acceptable to those who may deny that
they are depressed, and at the same time allow for early intervention with those individuals
vulnerable to depression without using a label such as depression.
Inner Pain, as generated by adolescents' definitions of depression, was a category that
extends the literature and was significantly connected with depressive symptomatology, and can
be used in intervention strategies. This knowledge may facilitate selective and clinical
interventions where greater understanding and communication is needed. Having an
understanding of adolescents' conceptions of depression such as Inner Pain, may be a way to
connect with young people at an early phase of intervention. The key factor here is to use
adolescents' conceptions of depression to be able to communicate meaningfully with them and
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