Abstract:
Adolescent depression is a significant problem in New Zealand. The Youth2000
survey indicated that around 9.0% of male and 18% of female secondary school
students reported feeling depressed. School Guidance Counsellors (SGCs) are ideally
placed to identify, assess and treat these adolescents. However, SGCs are rarely
included in mental health research.
I investigated the beliefs, knowledge and practice of SGCs around adolescent
depression. There were three stages to the research. Stage One used a qualitative
approach, with nine focus groups held in Auckland in 2004. Fifty-two SGCs
participated. I developed a thematic map from the results that emerged. Category One
“Beliefs and Knowledge” had three themes: causes, negative connotations and
different presentations. Category Two “Practice” had five themes: assessment,
referrals, effective therapy, systems and training needs.
Stage Two comprised a questionnaire based on these results. This investigated SGCs’
knowledge of depression, assessment, training and referral decisions. It also requested
demographic data. In 2005, this was sent to 455 SGCs throughout New Zealand. Two
hundred and forty SGCs (53%) responded. Eighty percent did not believe that their
initial training equipped them adequately to work with mild to moderately depressed
adolescents. SGCs wanted further training, especially appropriate strategies. They
requested information based on research and presented by clinicians.
In Stage Three, I developed a training workshop on assessment, referral and treatment
of adolescent depression, tailored to SGCs’ needs. Thirty-nine SGCs attended
workshops in 2006. Evaluations were positive and indicated that this training was
appropriate and useful. SGCs would recommend the workshop to others.
Strengths and weaknesses of the study are discussed and recommendations made
about future developments. There is emphasis on the need for policy to encourage
collaboration between SGCs and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services
(CAMHS), education and health, training providers and the New Zealand Association
of Counsellors. As SGCs are placed outside both teaching and health, they need to be
adequately trained and receive regular professional development, supervision and
consultation around depression. CAMHS are well placed to offer training to SGCs
based on identified needs and evidence-based practice.