Acknowledgements

I would like to address special thanks to my teacher Miss Nadia Doriney for her support, advice

and insightful comments as well as the persons who dedicated their time to answering my

questionnaires so that I can analyze of the issue of depression among teenagers.

1 | Page
 TASK 1

Statement of Problem

What are the effects of depression on adolescents in my school?

Research Objectives/ Aims

 What causes depression among adolescents?

 What is the link between depression and suicide?
 What could be done to help adolescents who are depressed?

1.

2 | Page
 TASK 2

Reasons for Selecting the Area of Research

The researcher has selected depression as her area of research because suicide has become a

health hazard especially among young people worldwide. Suicide affects the productive sector

of the state or region as well as families of victims.

According to Toni Nicholas in an article published in the Saint Lucia Star newspaper on

September 13th, 2014, “Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death in the 15-29 age groups. In

2011, the world health ranking placed Saint Lucia at number 144 out of 195 countries with 4.6

suicide death rate. As a society develops and modernizes, more pressure is being placed on

individuals not only to cope, giving rise to more stress-related diseases and psychological

imbalances that can lead to suicide.”

It has been evident that many adolescents have emotional problems and most of them choose to

commit suicide believing that it is the only way in which they can be happy. As a teenager

myself, there are many obstacles which I face daily that are very depressing No doubt other

individuals feel the same way but some of them choose to resolve their problems in very

destructive ways ,which typically involves self-harming activities.

Therefore, the researcher aims in her investigation to acknowledge the prevalence and causes of

depression among adolescents within her school, to ascertain whether there is a link between

depression and suicide and to provide possible solutions to this problem.

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 TASK 3

Method of Investigation

The method of investigation used is a questionnaire. A questionnaire is the most suitable method

of investigation because large amounts of data can be collected from a large number of people in

a short period of time and in a relatively cost effective way and it can be analyzed more

scientifically and objectively than other forms of research.

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 TASK 4

Instrument Used to Collect Data

Dear Respondent,

My name is Amilla Morille. I am a student of the Corinth Secondary School

and I am conducting research to find out the causes and effects of depression among teenagers

for my Social Studies School Based Assessment. Please answer each question as honestly as you

can. This is an anonymous survey therefore, I ask that you do not place your name on the

questionnaire. Be assured that your responses will be kept in complete confidence.

Yours sincerely,

_______________________

Amilla Morille

1.

5 | Page
What is your gender?

Male Female

2. What is your age range?

10-13 14-15 16-17

3. What denomination/religion do you belong to?

Catholic Baptist SDA Pentecostal Rastafarianism

Jehovah Witness other ________________

4. How frequently do you attend church?

Never Sometimes Always

Rarely Often

5. What type of family are you from?

Single nuclear extended combined sibling

6. How do you usually feel?

Moody Confused Scared

Sad Angry

6 | Page
 7. Have you ever been depressed?
never rarely sometimes often always

8. Has anyone in your household suffered from depression?

Yes no

9. What do you do when you feel depressed?

Smoke Sleep
drink alcohol take it out on others
Withdraw (go into my shell) feel sorry for myself
Overeat or under eat cut myself

10. What do you think is the root cause of depression amongst adolescents

Peer pressure Bullying

Hormonal changes Loss of love one
conflict with boyfriend/girlfriend Social issues
Insecurities Failure at school
Family conflict Feeling neglected

11. How often do you go out just for fun with your friends or family?

Never Sometimes Often

12.
13. Does your future seem hopeless

14. Not at all 17. Moderately

15. Just a little 18. Quite a lot
16. Somewhat 19. Very much
20.
21. What is your relationship with you parent like?
24. Somewhat Close
22. Very close
23. Moderately close
25. Not close at all

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26.
27. What are some effects of depression on adolescents?
28. Difficulty concentrating 31. Loss of interest in activities

29. chronic pain 32. Loss of appetite

30. Fatigue 33. Feeling of hopelessness

34. Do you occasionally have thoughts of death or suicide?

35. Often Never Always Sometimes

36.
37. Whom have you sought help from for your depression?
38. Teacher 40. Parent/ 41. Relatives

Guardian
39. Friends
Counselor

8 | Page
42.
43. What do you suggest that the school do to reduce the number of depressed students?
44. Implementing youth character building programs

45. Provide and environment where student can feel safe and comfortable to seek

counseling
46. Teach students problem solving skills in HFLE

47. Teachers should be trained in identifying symptoms of depression in students

48.
49. What can be done to assist students who are depressed?

50. Teachers should develop a relationship with students

51. Teachers should give student more time to complete assignment
52. School should work in collaboration with parents
53.
54. Are there any institutions where depressed students can get help?
55. Yes No
56.
57.

58.
 59.TASK 5

60. Procedures Used to Collect Data

61.

62. I distributed twenty-seven questionnaires randomly through the Facebook social network site

on the 4th of November 2014. Students were given until the 14th November to return their

completed questionnaire. I went through my friends list in the High School category, which

contains names of students who attend the same school as me. Then, I randomly selected

persons with whom I had been conversing most and whom I believed were very reliable. I

sent questionnaires to the first twenty-seven names. Out of all questionnaires, which were

given out, I received twenty-one answered copies of the questionnaire. The respondents

included both male and female students of various educational institutions within the 13-17

age range.

63.
 64.TASK 6

65. Presentation of Data

66. Question 7: Have you ever been depressed?

Frequency of Depression
35%

30%

25%

20%
Percentage of Respondents
15%

10%

5%

0%
Often Sometimes Rarely Never

Frequency

67.

68. Fig.1

69. In figure one above the bar graph shows how consistent the respondents have been feeling

depressed, 11% of persons stated that they have never felt depressed, 33% of the respondents

rarely felt depressed, 28% sometimes felt depressed and 28% of the respondents often felt

depressed.

70.

71.

72.
 73.

74. Question 9: What do you do when you feel depressed?

What the adolescence do when depressed

30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
Percentage of Respondents 0%

Actions

75.
76.
77. Fig.2

78. In figure two, the column chart depicts what an adolescent does when depressed.

79.

80.

81.

82.

83.

84.
 85.

86. Question 10: What do you think is the root cause of depression amongst adolescents?

Causes of Depression amongst Adolescents

40%

35%

30%

25%

20%

15%

10%

5%

0%

87.
88. Fig.3

89. Figure three is a bar graph showing the causes of depression among students at my school.

Majority of the respondents (35%) believe that peer pressure and relationship problems are

the main causes of depression among adolescents. The second most common causes are

family conflict, bullying and feeling neglected (24%) followed by social issues (12%). Six

percent of the respondents think that hormonal changes, insecurities, loss of loved one and

failure at school cause depression in adolescents.

90.
91.

92.

93.

94. Question 14: What are some effects of depression on adolescents?

Effects of Depression on Adolescents

Difficulty Concentrating
Chronic Pain
4% 8% Fatigue
4% Loss of Interest in Activities
13% Loss of Appetite
42% Feeling of Hopelessness
Other
21%
8%

95.
Fig.4

96. In figure four, this pie chart illustrates the effects of depression on adolescents both male and

female within the 13-17 age range. A vast majority (42%) of respondents believe that feeling

hopeless is the most common effect of depression on adolescents. Twenty-one percent

believe that when persons are depressed they tend to lose interest in recreational activities,

while 13% believe that depressed persons suffer from fatigue. The same percentage of

students (8%) believes that depressed persons lose their appetite and that they usually have
 difficulty concentrating. Only 4% believe that persons who are depressed ordinarily have

chronic pains and the same percentage think that there are other effects of depression.

97.

98.

99. Question 15: Do you occasionally have thoughts of death or suicide?

100.
101. Frequency of Adolescents’ thoughts of Suicide
102. Frequency 103. No. of Respondents 104. % of Respondents

105. Often 106. 3 107. 16

108. Never 109. 13 110. 68

111. Always 112. 1 113. 5

114. Sometimes 115. 2 116. 11

117.
118. Table 1

119. This table shows how frequent adolescents have reasoning of death or suicide. Sixteen

percent of the respondents said that they often have thoughts of death or suicide, sixty-eight

percent has never had thoughts of death or suicide, five percent always had thoughts of death

or suicide and eleven percent sometimes thought of death or suicide.

120.

121.

122.

123.

124.
125.

126.

127.

128.

129. Question 16: Whom have you sought help from for your depression?

130.

Persons an adolescent usually refer to when depressed

16%
26%

11%

42%
5%

Teacher Friends Parents/Guardians

Relatives Counsellor

131.

132. Fig.5

133. In figure five above, the pie chart shows whom adolescents confide in when they are

depressed. A great number of respondents (42%) indicated that they seek help from their

friends, sixteen percent look for help from teachers, eleven percent from their relatives and

only five percent confide in their parents/guardian.

134.
 135.

2. No. Of 3. % of 136.
1. SOLUTIONS Respond Respond
ents ents 137.

4. Implementing youth character building programs 5. 5 6. 26 138.

7. Provide an environment where students can feel safe
8. 5 9. 26 139.
and comfortable to seek counselling
Qu
10. Teach students problem solving skills in HFLE 11. 2 12. 11

13. Teachers should be trained in identifying symptoms of

14. 6 15. 32
depression in students
estion 17: What do you suggest that the school do to reduce the number of depressed
students?

140.

141. Strategies the School Could Implement to Reduce the Number of Depressed Students

142.
143. Table 2

144. Table 2 shows what respondents suggested can be done by the school to reduce the

number of adolescents who are depressed. Thirty-two percent (32%) of respondents believe

that the best way is for teachers to be trained to identify symptoms of depression in students.

The same percentage of students (26%) indicated that character building programs and a safe

and comfortable environment where students can seek counselling would reduce depression

in the student population. Eleven percent of respondents believe that teaching problem

solving skills in HFLE would help.

 145. TASK 7

146. Analysis and

Interpretation of Data

147. It has been concluded by the researcher during the investigatory process for data collection, that a

vast majority of the respondents belong in a nuclear family structure. They are within the 14-15 age

range (adolescent) and belong to the Catholic denomination. The method of data collection which was

used is a questionnaire. This questionnaire has been distributed to both genders, namely: male and

female. Fifty-seven percent were male respondents and forty-three percent female.

148. Question ten asked the respondents what they believe is the central cause of depression. The

probable causes are as follows: peer pressure, hormonal changes, relationship, insecurities, family

conflict, bullying, loss of loved one, social issues, failure at school and feeling neglected. Based on the

responses given, peer pressure and relationship appeared to be the most dominant causes of depression

both with a percentage of respondents of thirty-five. Adolescents do not have the mental or physical

preparedness for intimate relationships especially one in which there is a deep involvement with the

opposite sex.

149. Question fourteen asked the respondents the effects of depression. The most valid effects are:

having difficulty concentrating, consistent chronic pain, fatigue, developing a loss of interest in

recreational activities, a loss of appetite and the feeling of hopelessness. Feeling hopeless is where one

has no ambitions whatsoever and nothing appeals to their interest. It is typical that persons lacking any

sort of motive towards personal development will destroy themselves in any form which may be

suicide or physical self-harm (cutting of one’s flesh).

150. Question sixteen asked whom has the respondent sought help from when feeling depressed. The

reasonable responses are: teacher, friends, parents, relatives and counselor. Approximately seven percent

of respondents confide in their parents/ guardian, fourteen percent confide in relatives, twenty-two

percent of respondents relate to a teacher and fifty-seven percent relate all personal issues to their

friends. It was astonishing that none of the respondents has highlighted that they would seek help from a

counselor. School counselors play part with a significant role in the education team. They are trained to

help students in areas of academic achievement, personal or social development as well as career

development. The counseling process involves sharing of deepest and most intimate thoughts and

feelings. Technically, what one may infer as a result of the responses is that adolescent’s do not feeling

comfortable in speaking to a counselor perhaps in the fear of having what was discussed surreptitiously

to be spread. Counselling and psychotherapy have been defined as “potentially difficult, embarrassing,

and overall risky enterprise that induce fear and avoidance in some individuals.” Developing

relationships with teachers which has been the most eminent solution to assisting depressed adolescents.

If relationships are being developed chances are that students will not be reluctant to disclosing personal

information and thus teachers will be able to establish robust tactics into ensuring students feel

comfortable in the school’s atmosphere.

151.

152.

153.

154.
 155. TASK 8

156. Findings

157.

158. After analyzing the results of the research, the researcher discovered that:

1. Peer pressure and relationship problems are the preeminent stimulation of depression

amongst adolescents.
2. The most preferred solution to the alarming rate of depression amongst adolescents is

that teachers should be trained in identifying symptoms of depression in students.

159.
160. .
161.
162.
163.
164.
165.

166.

167.

168.

169.

170.

171.

172. TASK 9

173. Recommendations and

Implementation
174. Recommendations:

 In my investigations, the respondents indicated that they do not seek help from

counsellors for their problems, 5.26% seek help from parents, 15.8% get help

from teachers but an alarming 42.1% confide in their friends with their issues.

Studies show that “often children discuss their complications with their closest

friends, [but] the advice which is given is not usually reasonable and may come

with undesirable consequences or outcomes”. This may be because students tend

to believe that if they confide in a counsellor that there will be a lot more

problems in their lives. As a result, I recommend that parents, teachers and the

counsellor of my school should collaborate to provide a base where children can

feel comfortable to disclose confidential matters with professionally skilled

workers such as a counselor.

 Healthcare professionals in primary care, schools and other relevant community

settings should be trained to detect symptoms of depression, and to assess

children and young people who may be at risk of depression.

175. Implementations:

176. The educational institutions may play a vital role in the personal development of the

student population, the principal and members of auxiliary staff may tabulate peculiar youth

retreat activities so that individuals from various professions will be obtainable to

communicate with students about diligence and the importance of a good self-image. The

main causes of depression based on the results obtained from the questionnaire are peer

pressure and relationship problems. Typically in youth retreats, the professionals aid by

providing the youth with strategies that is likely to help relieve stress and other tensions.
  Teenaged depression can significantly impair a student’s ability to learn and

connect with peers during a crucial period for academic achievement and social

growth. Teachers can check up on students regularly especially during

recreational hours to ensure that the student is coping well within the educational

atmosphere. This gives students the general idea that someone apart from their

parents or legal guardians care about their emotional and psychological well being

and that particular student will then develop a change in manner, it is probable

that they will be more open to communicate efficiently with peers and officials.

177.

178.
 179. Bibliography

180.

1. Melinda Smith, M.A., Jeanne Segal, Ph.D., Lawrence Robinson (December ,2014) Suicide

Prevention, from http://www.helpguide.org/articles/suicide-prevention/suicide-prevention-

helping-someone-who-is-suicidal.htm
2. National Mental Health Association. Depression in Teens, from

www.mentalhealthamerica.net/conditions/depression-teens
3. Nazella-Alli Sukhnandan. (September 26th, 2014). More males committing suicide in St.

Lucia, from http://www.stlucianewsonline.com/more-males-committing-suicide-in-st-lucia/

4.
 181. Appendix

182. Analysis of Questionnaire

1. What is your gender?

183. 184. No. of Respondents 185. % of Respondents

186. Male 187. 12 188. 57
189. Female 190. 9 191. 43
192.

2. What is your age range?

193. 194. No. of 195. % of

Respondents Respondents
196. 10-13 197. 1 198. 5
199. 14-15 200. 11 201. 52
202. 16-17 203. 9 204. 43
205.

3. What denomination/religion do you belong to?

206. 207. No. of 208. % of

Respondents Respondents
209. Catholic 210. 9 211. 45
212. SDA 213. 3 214. 15
215. Pentecostal 216. 6 217. 30
218. Other 219. 2 220. 10
221.

4. How frequently do you attend church?

222. 223. No. of Respondents 224. % of Respondents

225. Never 226. 4 227. 21
228. Rarely 229. 3 230. 16
231. Sometimes 232. 5 233. 26
234. Often 235. 5 236. 26
237. Always 238. 2 239. 11
240.

241.

242.

243.
244.

5. What type of family are you from?

245. 246. No. of Respondents 247. % of Respondents

248. Single 249. 6 250. 32
251. Nuclear 252. 10 253. 53
254. Combined 255. 3 256. 16
257.

6. How you do usually feel?

258. 259. No. of Respondents 260. % of Respondents

261. Moody 262. 7 263. 37
264. Sad 265. 2 266. 11
267. Confused 268. 4 269. 21
270. Angry 271. 2 272. 11
273. Other 274. 4 275. 21
276.

7. Have you ever been depressed?

277. 278. No. of Respondents 279. % of Respondents

280. Never 281. 2 282. 11
283. Rarely 284. 6 285. 33
286. Sometimes 287. 5 288. 28
289. Often 290. 5 291. 28
292.

8. Has anyone in your household suffered from depression?

293. 294. No. of 295. % of

Respondents Respondents
296. Yes 297. 9 298. 50
299. No 300. 9 301. 50
302. Other 303. 1 304. 6
305.

306.

307.

308.

309.

310.
311.

9. What do you do when you feel depressed?

312. 313. No. of 314. % of

Respondents Respondents
315. Smoke 316. 1 317. 5
318. Withdraw 319. 5 320. 26
321. Overeat or 322. 3 323. 16
Under eat
324. Sleep 325. 3 326. 16
327. Take it out on 328. 4 329. 21
others
330. Feel sorry for 331. 1 332. 5
myself
333. Cut myself 334. 2 335. 11
336.

10. What do you think is the root cause of depression amongst adolescents?

337. 338. No. of 339. % of

Respondents Respondents
340. Peer Pressure 341. 6 342. 35
343. Hormonal 344. 1 345. 6
Changes
346. Relationship 347. 6 348. 35
349. Insecurities 350. 1 351. 6
352. Family Conflict 353. 4 354. 24
355. Bullying 356. 4 357. 24
358. Loss of loved 359. 1 360. 6
one
361. Social Issues 362. 2 363. 12
364. Failure at 365. 1 366. 6
School
367. Feeling 368. 4 369. 24
Neglected
370.

11. How often do you go out just for fun with your friends or family?

371. 372. No. of 373. % of

Respondents Respondents
374. Never 375. 2 376. 11
377. Sometimes 378. 9 379. 50
380. Often 381. 7 382. 39
383.

12. Does your future seem hopeless?

384. 385. No. of Respondents 386. % of Respondents

387. Not at all 388. 14 389. 74
390. Just a little 391. 2 392. 11
393. Somewhat 394. 1 395. 5
396. Moderately 397. 1 398. 5
399. Quite a lot 400. 1 401. 5
402.

403.

13. What is your relationship with you parent like?

404. 405. No. of Respondents 406. % of Respondents

407. Very close 408. 7 409. 37
410. Moderately close 411. 2 412. 11
413. Somewhat close 414. 5 415. 26
416. Not close at all 417. 5 418. 26
419.

14. What are some effects of depression on adolescents?

420. 421. No. of 422. % of Respondents

Respondents
423. Difficulty 424. 2 425. 8
Concentrating
426. Chronic Pain 427. 1 428. 4
429. Fatigue 430. 3 431. 13
432. Loss of interest 433. 5 434. 21
in activities
435. Loss of 436. 2 437. 8
appetite
438. Feeling of 439. 10 440. 42
hopelessness
441. Other 442. 1 443. 4
444.

15. Do you occasionally have thoughts of death or suicide?

445. 446. No. of 447. % of

Respondents Respondents
448. Often 449. 3 450. 16
451. Never 452. 13 453. 68
454. Always 455. 1 456. 5
457. Sometimes 458. 2 459. 11
460.

16. Whom have you sought help from for your depression?

461. 462. No. of 463. % of

Respondents Respondents
464. Teacher 465. 3 466. 16
467. Friends 468. 8 469. 42
470. Parents/ 471. 1 472. 5
Guardians
473. Relatives 474. 2 475. 11
476. Other 477. 5 478. 26
479.

480.

481.

482.

483.

484.

17. What do you suggest that the school do to reduce the number of depressed students?

485. 486. No. of 487. % of

Respondents Respondents
488. Implementing youth 489. 5 490. 26
character building
programs
491. Provide and 492. 5 493. 26
environment where
students can feel safe and
comfortable to seek
counselling
494. Teach students 495. 2 496. 11
problem solving skills in
HFLE
497. Teachers 498. 6 499. 32
should be trained in
identifying symptoms of
depression in students
500. Other 501. 1 502. 5
503.

18. What can be done to assist students who are depressed?

504. 505. No. of 506. % of

Respondents Respondents
507. Teachers 508. 11 509. 58
should develop
relationships with students
510. Teachers 511. 3 512. 16
should give students more
time to complete
assignments
513. Schools should 514. 5 515. 26
work in collaboration with
parents
516.

19. Are there any institutions where depressed students can get help?

517. 518. No. of 519. % of

Respondents Respondents
520. Yes 521. 14 522. 78
523. No 524. 4 525. 22
526.

527.

528.

529.

530.

531.