Teenage pupils get group therapy in class to help ward off depression

[Amy10]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7846578.stm

[BPCharlotte]

I read this with huge interest as it was one of the main subjects of my therapy session today, the fear that my 11 and 13 yr old girls will have the same problems I did at that age. I personally think it should be a compulsory class for all teenagers in all countries, I mean think of the potential for prevention here! Any cost would surely be outweighed, if the figures are correct, by the savings made in the treatment at an earlier age for those who flag up as at risk. Less psych referrals and therapy referrals for long standing problems (which are obviously harder and therefore more expensive to treat), less acute hospital admissions, less knock-on effects to children of parents with mental health problems as they would be treated BEFORE they start a family... better observation for those at risk during and after pregnancy... WHY has nobody done this before? It's something that I have thought for a while now, that some basic CBT or at least learning about coping strategies should be taught in school.

Let's hope this trial is a huge success, then the politicians will have a harder time turning down the funding for these kinds of projects.

[Alien.]

Hello. My name is Karis. I'm fifteen, self-absorbed and depressed.

Speaking from a personal point of view, talking about my negative feelings especially seeing as I do actually have clinical depression in a classroom situation would probably be terrifying, humiliating and upsetting for me. May be because I am depressed so my perspective is warped and as a bonus I'm painfully shy ( ); I think it may help in preventing depression but seriously probably will do more harm than good so I for one am against this. Also, preventing depression is pretty damn near impossible. Intervention is probably the only thing'll that'll work and for that, in schools, most schools around me I know have school counsellors pupils can go to if they're feeling depressed (but mostly it's just for anything's that bothering you, I had one girl in my class claim anybody who's not an adult can't be "depressed or mental". Mental what dear?) and if that's missing in other schools that's one improvement to be made instead of this silly group therapy thing.

Not that my opinion really matters or anything, just thought I'd throw my two cents in there