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

APPENDIX Q: Parent or Guardian Information Letter
THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
Department of Educational and Counselling
Psychology and Special Education
Faculty of Education
2125 Main Mall
Vancouver, B.C. Canada V6T 1Z4
Appendices
Institute of Health
Promotion Research
Faculty of Graduate Studies
2206 East Mall
Vancouver, B.C. Canada V6T 1Z3
WWW: http://www.ihpr.ubc.ca
Parent/Guardian Consent and Information Form
Adolescents' Understanding of Depression and Help-Seeking Behaviors
Principal Investigator:
Kimberly Schonert-Reichl, Ph.D
Associate Professor
Department of Educational and Counselling
Psychology and Special Education
Phone number: 604-822-2215
Fax: 604-822-3302
E-mail: kimberly.schonert-reichl@ubc.ca
Dear Parent or Guardian:
Co-investigator:
Czesia Fuks Geddes, R.N., M.S.W.,
Ph.D Candidate
Interdisciplinary Studies
Institute of Health Promotion Research
Phone number: 604-822-0634
Fax: 604-822-9210
E-mail: czesia@interchange.ubc.ca
We are writing to request permission for your son/daughter to participate in an exciting
research project that we are conducting at his/her school. The project is entitled Adolescents'
Understanding of Depression and Help-Seeking Behaviors. This project is being undertaken by
Czesia Fuks Geddes to fulfill the thesis requirements for a Doctor of Philosophy degree in the
Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of British Columbia (UBC), under the supervision of
Dr. Kim Schonert-Reichl, Associate Professor of Educational Psychology and Special Education
at the University of British Columbia; Dr. Jane Garland, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the
University of British Columbia, and Head of the Mood Disorders Clinic at the Children's and
Women's Hospital in Vancouver; and Dr. James Frankish, Associate Professor of Graduate
Studies & Health Care & Epidemiology (Medicine), and Associate Director at the Institute of
Health Promotion Research in UBC.
What is the purpose of the research study?
The purpose of this study is to identify how adolescents think about and define
depression in others their age and in themselves, and the decisions they make to seek help for
depression. One of the research questions also explores adolescents' level of depression. To
answer this question each participant will complete one set of questions designed to screen, not
diagnose, for their level of depression. It is hoped that the results of this study will help us to
improve our understanding of depression in young people to better communicate with them,
assist in the design and implementation of successful interventions, and to help educators
facilitate an optimal educational environment by considering adolescents' perspectives. Since
research in this area using Canadian youth is extremely limited, your child's participation in this
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