"It's so easy to say nobody understands. And it might be true. But, we’re fighters, all of us who have dealt with depression... What has helped me a lot is not looking at the [big] picture, but having little things inspire me... I just think that’s beautiful, just little moments where you realize hope. And you see hope, and you see beauty in its raw form."

"Breaking Free From Depression" documentary participant

Adolescents are being diagnosed with depression and attempting suicide at alarming and increasing rates; a startling 60-80% of adolescents go undiagnosed and untreated.

Break Free From Depression is a program designed by The Swensrud Depression Prevention Initiative (SDPI), a part of the Department of Psychiatry at Children’s Hospital Boston. The program is designed for students in grades 9-12. It includes a guide for using the materials in school, a 35-minute documentary, and four structured modules for student instruction. The goals of the Break Free From Depression program are: to raise awareness of depression and other risk factors associated with mental illnesses in adolescents, promote early identification of youth in distress, and reduce stigma associated with mental illness.

The Break Free From Depression program is divided into three distinct sections
(see diagram below).

The manual is divided into the three sections highlighted above and includes step-by-step directions, handouts, resources, and structured activities. The structured activities focus on staff development, student instruction, and supplemental lessons that allow teachers the opportunity to continue this important conversation throughout the year in a variety of settings and instructional approaches. The 35-minute documentary focuses on the stories of adolescents from diverse backgrounds as they struggle with depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. We learn of their symptoms, the course of their illness, and the methods they use for coping through their own words, rather than through expert narrative. Finally, the documentary also addresses hope – the adolescents in the film do not only share their distress, but also ways they find help and relief, and the daily skills they have learned to manage their symptoms of depression.

MODULE DESCRIPTIONS

Module One: This module provides students with an overview of depression and suicide, including specific facts and statistical information, as well as symptoms and how to seek help. While students might have general ideas about the disorder, they may have inaccurate information, or may significantly under or overestimate statistics associated with it. The information in this section can be used to initiate conversations, provide accurate facts, and to respond to particular student questions. This module is presented prior to viewing the documentary in order for all students to have a foundation of knowledge before they are introduced to the real-life narratives of other adolescents.

Module Two: During this module, students view the documentary “Break Free From Depression.” The documentary is divided into the following sections: stigma, risk factors, symptoms of depression, anxiety and internal thoughts, suicide, and coping. The documentary features adolescents and young adults who either struggled or are currently struggling with depression. They are not actors and their words were not scripted.

Module Three: During this module, students engage in a case based discussion where they focus on particular individuals featured on the documentary. This in-depth discussion allows students more time to review topics such as treatment, symptoms, and how to access help.

Module Four: In this module, students learn strategies for:
• Approaching a trusted adult in the school
• Accessing help and/or treatment in the community
• Approaching someone about whom they are concerned
• Managing mood on a daily basis

During a brainstorming session, students also think about ways in which they can participate in school or community efforts to continue educating teens and adults about depression.

CURRENT PROGRAM STATUS

We are currently piloting the Break Free From Depression school based curriculum and anticipate the final product to be available for the 2011-2012 academic year. For further information about the availability and cost of the program, please visit our website in September, 2011. If you are interested in receiving a notice of the program’s availability, please leave your contact information below:

LEARN MORE

If you’re a clinician, an educator, a parent or an adolescent who would like to learn more about the work of the Swensrud Depression Prevention Initiative at Children’s Hospital Boston, please contact:

Vanessa Prosper, Ph.D.
617-919-3210
vanessa.prosper@childrens.harvard.edu

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