School-based intervention to promote coping in rural teens

Area of Science:

• Adolescent mental health
• School-based interventions
• Depression symptomology

Background:

• High school students experience significant depressive symptoms.
• Effective coping strategies are crucial for adolescent mental well-being.
• Early intervention programs can mitigate the impact of depression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a cognitive-behavioral group intervention for high school students with depressive symptoms.
• To assess the program's effectiveness in enhancing coping skills and reducing depression.
• To determine the feasibility of school-based nurse-led mental health programs.

Main Methods:

• A two-phase experimental study involving 222 rural high school students (ages 14-19).
• Identification of students with depressive symptomatology and assessment of their coping styles.
• Randomization of students into a control group (n=18) or an 8-week nurse-led cognitive skills intervention group (n=23).

Main Results:

• The intervention group showed a significant reduction in depressive symptoms among female students.
• Students in the intervention group demonstrated a wider range of coping strategies compared to the control group.
• Posttesting indicated positive effects of the cognitive-behavioral intervention.

Conclusions:

• School-based nurses are well-positioned to deliver mental health interventions.
• Nurse-led, school-based programs can be successfully implemented to support adolescent mental health.
• This intervention shows potential for promoting positive mental health outcomes in teenagers.