Abstract
BackgroundSupporting positive mental health development in adolescents is a major public health concern worldwide. Although several school-based programs aimed at preventing depression have been launched, it is crucial to evaluate these programs and to obtain feedback from participating adolescents. This study aimed to explore adolescents’ experiences with a -based cognitive-behavioral depression prevention program.MethodsEighty-nine adolescents aged 13–15 years were divided into 12 focus groups. The focus group interviews were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.ResultsThree categories and eight subcategories were found to be related to the experience of the school-based program. The first category, intrapersonal strategies, consisted of the subcategories of directed thinking, improved self-confidence, stress management, and positive activities. The second category, interpersonal awareness, consisted of the subcategories of trusting the group and considering others. The third category, structural constraints, consisted of the subcategories of negative framing and emphasis on performance.ConclusionsThe school-based mental health program was perceived as beneficial and meaningful on both individual and group levels, but students expressed a desire for a more health-promoting approach.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12889-015-2368-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Highlights
Supporting positive mental health development in adolescents is a major public health concern worldwide
A qualitative focus group design was chosen to capture the experiences of adolescents who had participated in a school-based mental health program [24]
Most adolescents perceived the need for a course such as Depression in Swedish adolescents (DISA), and they believed that the age of 14 or 15 was a good age for such a course because adolescents feel substantial pressure at this age and are old enough to understand the message of the course
Summary
Supporting positive mental health development in adolescents is a major public health concern worldwide. Several school-based programs aimed at preventing depression have been launched, it is crucial to evaluate these programs and to obtain feedback from participating adolescents. This study aimed to explore adolescents’ experiences with a -based cognitive-behavioral depression prevention program. Methods: Eighty-nine adolescents aged 13–15 years were divided into 12 focus groups. Supporting positive mental health development in adolescents is a major public health issue worldwide. Adolescence is the healthiest period in life [2], the many positive and negative aspects of normal teenage development have been described as an emotional roller coaster [3]. A large group of youth is at risk for depression, which differs from normal teenage mood swings.
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