School-based Screening for Depression

Diagnosis and treatment of depression increase with school-based screening according to a study.

Diagnosis and treatment of depression increase with school-based screening as per a study at the University Park, Penn State, published in JAMA Network Open.

The students who participated in this universal school-based depression screening were twice as likely to begin treatment compared to their peers.

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Clinical Depression is a serious medical condition that affects majority of people at some point in their lives. Symptoms of clinical depression include sleep disorder, loss of appetite.

‘Diagnosis and treatment of depression increase with school-based screening according to a study. ’

“From 2008 to 2018, the numbers increased by over 70% from 8.3% to 14.4%. During the pandemic, concerns about increasing student depression have been widespread. Suicides, which are often associated with mental health conditions, are now the second-leading cause of adolescent death. This research shows we do have better ways to reach students,” says Deepa Sekhar, associate professor of pediatrics.

While the United States Preventative Services Task Force recommends universal depression screening for 12- to 18-year-olds in primary care, less than half of U.S. adolescents have regular physician check-ups, and even fewer are screened.

To identify barriers to student academic success, schools are currently conducting vision and hearing screening. However, the study states that depression may likewise also affect academic success.

Depression - Symptom Evaluation
Depression occurs due to alterations in the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain.

Depression Screening

The three-year study was had a larger sample size of more than 12,000 students in 9th through 12th grade, from 14 Pennsylvania public high schools across the 2018-19 and 2019-20 academic years. The students were predominantly minority, from urban and rural districts, and many were from low socioeconomic backgrounds. They were screened for depressive symptoms through an established questionnaire.

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Depression is one of the most common mental disorders affecting approximately 340 million people in the world. No one is immune from depression - it occurs in people of all social classes, all countries and all cultural settings.

It was discovered that universal school-based screening for depressive symptoms increased both identification and treatment initiation for adolescent depression, with greater identification among females and minority students.

Overall, it was also seen that students who received universal screening were twice as likely to initiate treatment. The study further emphasized the high need for screening given the growing incidence of unmet mental health needs among school students.

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Depression is a common disorder and many worldwide suffer from depression. Early recognition of symptoms and signs of depression can help in taking a holistic approach to the management of depression.

“Looking at the results. We want to focus next on what school districts, nationally, need to implement a universal screening program. We know support from administrators will be key, along with clear policies and procedures for screening and follow-up. It is also important to emphasize to schools and families that screening simply identifies symptoms, and does not diagnose depression or any other mental health conditions,” says Sekhar.

Source-Medindia