Addressing Adolescent Depression in Schools: Evaluation of an In-service Training for School Staff in the United States

Abstract

This study evaluated an adolescent depression in-service training for school staff in the United States.A total of 252 school staff (e.g., teachers, principals, counselors) completed assessments prior to and following the in-service and a subsample of these staff participated in focus groups following the in-service and three months later.Questionnaire and focus group data suggested that the in-service increased school staff’s perceived awareness and knowledge of adolescent depression and knowledge of how to connect with depressed students, guide their learning process, and connect with students’ parents.School staff viewed the in-service as a valuable tool for their school and provided suggestions for the refinement of the in-service.Finally, perceived changes in teacher behavior were reported three months later. Implications and future directions were presented.