Combating Youth Depression in Primary Care

Abstract

Youth depression is a serious mental health disorder that may have detrimental consequences. Half of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin before the age of 14 (Hagan, Shaw, & Duncan, 2008). Depression in youth is linked to increased morbidity and mortality, along with high-risk behaviors. Mental health and mood disorders are the leading cause of illness and burden among youth (Patel, 2013). Nationally, suicide is the third leading cause of death for individuals aged 15 to 24. In North Dakota, suicide is the first leading cause of death for individuals aged 15 to 24 (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, 2016). Unfortunately, depression remains largely underdiagnosed and undertreated; only about 50 percent of youth with depression are diagnosed before they reach adulthood (Zuckerbrot, Cheung, Jensen, Stein, & Laraque, 2007). The purpose of this project was to improve the mental health of youth through increasing universal screening in the primary care setting, and improve the confidence and ability of the primary care provider to diagnose and treat youth depression. Primary care provider education was launched through collaboration with Essentia Health, providing education regarding youth depression focused on universal screening, identification of youth depression, and treatment modalities. To evaluate primary care provider education, a pretest/posttest was completed, along with key stakeholder interviews. Surveys demonstrated an increased intent to screen and increased confidence in identifying and managing youth depression. The interview with key stakeholders was used to determine the effectiveness and feasibility of universal screening and management of youth depression in the primary care setting.