Schools strive to "ACT now" to help depressed teens

Teen-agers battling depression may not even realize it, school psychologists say. They may not recognize the symptoms in themselves or know how to reach out for help if they do. And their friends, afraid to make waves, will often assume, "They'll snap out of it. They'll get better."

The Mat-Su Borough School District is striving to change that, one school at a time. Using a video and depression questionnaire, school psychologists, counselors and nurses recently worked with nearly 200 teen-agers at Houston Jr. Sr. High to identify those who are suffering from depression. At the same time, the mental health professionals hope to equip all students with the ability to recognize symptoms of depression, reach out to those who are suffering and find help.

During the course of this school year, the group plans to eventually bring the program "Keep Teens Safe, ACT Now" to all of the district's high schools.

"Some of the students say it is hard to talk about death and depression, and it is," Wasilla High school psychologist Deborah Kroll said. "But we need to have that in our vocabulary instead of burying our heads and pretending it isn't something that happens here. It does happen."

Teen-age suicide reached alarming rates in the Mat-Su Valley in recent years, with a dozen deaths in 1999 compared to none in the three years preceeding.

Suicide is the third-leading cause of death for 15- to 24-year-olds nationwide, and here in Alaska the statistics are even more bleak. According to experts in the field, Alaska has the highest suicide rate in the nation, more than double that of the next highest state.

"If we can prevent just one death, it will be worthwhile," Kroll said. "Everyone reaching out to everyone else -- that could be an amazing change for this whole Valley."

The district modeled its new program after the nationally recognized SOS Suicide Prevention Program, endorsed by the U.S. Surgeon General, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Association of School Psychologists.

Before the program began at Houston High, the principal sent letters home to parents explaining what would be happening in the classroom.

The session begins with students watching a video that includes presentations by school psychologists, counselors and students who have suffered from depression or even attempted suicide. The video also features role playing scenes with teens demonstrating the wrong and right things to say.

"ACT" in the program's title stands for "acknowledge, care and tell." The goal is to be able to identify symptoms, reach out to the person and then find a responsible, caring adult who can help.

After watching the video, students fill out a screening form that asks questions about specific symptoms of depression they may have experienced in the past year.

"We talked to them about the difference between depression and just being temporarily unhappy," explained Houston-area school psychologist Susan Simpson.

Based on the screening questionnaire, the team of school psychologists identifies students who may be in need of further help. In some cases, parents are contacted and the school psychologist may suggest counseling. In other cases, it becomes clear the student faced difficulties at one time but is now faring well.

The program also teaches that suicide is a preventable tragedy that can occur as a result of untreated depression and that the best way students can prevent a friend's suicide is by sharing their concerns with a responsible adult, whether it be a teacher, coach, parent, neighbor or relative.

"Our goal is to open up that communication get and that message across that true friends tell," Simpson said. "This is not a secret to keep."