Depression doesn't discriminate: Youth and depression - treatment works

Somerville Cares About Prevention (SCAP), a community substance abuse prevention coalition, partnered with our local cable access television station Somerville Community Access Television to assist our Somerville Positive Forces youth leaders in creating this Public Service Announcement (PSA) in efforts to raise awareness about depression among teens. In reviewing local Youth Risk Behavior Survey data around substance abuse, Somerville Positive Forces Youth Leaders identified stress and depression as key factors contributing to substance abuse with some youth using drugs and alcohol as a form of self-medication. Collaboration with the SCAP Committee on Suicide Prevention and Mental Health assisted in identifying key issues around youth depression that were included in the messaging, encompassing information on signs and symptoms and increasing literacy to reduce stigma and emphasize that depression is a health issue that can improve with treatment just like other health issues. In designing this PSA, Youth Leaders felt it was important to include real stories about depression to maintain the authenticity of the project and to help youth relate to the experiences and situations depression can create for teens. The Stop Motion production process is utilized to capture and hold the audience's attention while a familiar environmental settings and an accessible teen centered treatment facility is used to help youth identify where they can go for help. Collaboration among key stakeholders such as the youth leaders was critical to the integrity and accessibility of the content. The target audiences for this PSA are high school teens. The video is intended for online use via social media sites along with local cable television, school announcements, and event showings.