Knowing the Blues

Adolescent Depression Awareness Project

Knowing the Blues: the Adolescent Depression Awareness Project, is a collaborative project of Monash School Welfare Coordinators Network, Eastern Health Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, and the Monash School Focused Youth Service which funded the project. Representatives of these groups comprised a Project Steering Committee. A Consultative Committee included the Steering Committee members as well as representatives from schools in the Monash area and EHCAMHS.

The project aims were to help Year 8 students, their parents, and school staff, recognise when experiences and feelings go beyond ‘normal’, and what they should do if this happens to them, or someone they know. The education focuses on depression as it relates to other emotions such as sadness, anger, happiness and fear, with particular emphasis on the signs and symptoms of depression, how to help someone who might be depressed, and referral and support networks. This approach focuses on depression in the context of a broad healthy emotional range. The project materials were prepared, and then piloted in three secondary schools in the Monash area.

In each school an after school information session was provided for school staff, and an evening information session for parents. These were followed by education sessions to each Year 8 home group, across one double period. Questionnaires measuring knowledge of depression both before and after the presentations were administered, with the post presentation questionnaire including qualitative questions relating to presentation style, accessibility of the information, and level of interest. The evaluations reported an increase in knowledge and understanding across schools, and groups.

The Resource Kit contains the materials required for both understanding the framework of the project, and for presenting the sessions in a school setting. The Resource Kit was launched in September 2001.

Click here to proceed to the launch kit.