Experiences of adolescents and parents on the mental health management of depression in adolescents, North West province, South Africa.
Precious C Chukwuere, Leepile A Sehularo, Mofatiki E Manyedi
PMID 35261252WHAT IT FOUND
Adolescents and parents described depression care as bringing hopelessness, negative attitudes, financial strain, school problems and withdrawal.
They asked for therapeutic hospital environments, continuous monitoring, supportive attitudes and media education.
Key findings
01Participants reported negative experiences with depression management, including hopelessness and suicidal thoughts, difficulty coping, negative attitudes from support systems, financial strain, school problems and withdrawal.
02They proposed methods of managing depression: a therapeutic hospital environment, continuous monitoring by mental healthcare practitioners, positive attitudes from support systems and media to teach people about depression.
03Parents said symptoms could continue despite management, and adolescents and parents described withdrawal from other people.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The findings come from a qualitative study in South Africa, so they cannot be generalised to all settings. Adolescents with psychosis, neurological impairment, speech impairment or active suicidal risk were excluded, so the study does not describe those groups. A translator was used for only one parent interview, and the researcher noted this may have missed information. The study describes experiences and preferences, not tested treatment effects.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read participants' requests for monitoring, media campaigns or therapeutic environments as evidence that these approaches reduce depression symptoms. This was a qualitative interview study, so it describes experiences and preferences, not tested treatment effects.