The Weller Health Education Center is pleased to announce that the Adolescent Depression Awareness Program (ADAP) is part of the 2011-12 preventive health education program lineup and will be offered to eligible schools that apply by the December 31, 2011 deadline.
Funded by Capital BlueCross, this program was developed by Dr. Karen Swartz, Clinical Programs Director at the Johns Hopkins Mood Disorders Center.
The effects of teen depression are far reaching. In fact, major depression is the leading undiagnosed illness among teens, affecting five percent of American teenagers. Of these, only 30 percent will receive any intervention or treatment. A recent RAND Health study revealed that depression significantly impairs teens’ functioning in school as well as their social relationships with friends and family. Teens suffering with depression are more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol, experience early pregnancy and struggle academically. The stigma of mental illness often keeps teens from reaching out for help.
Suicide, the most serious risk of depression, is the third leading cause of death among high school students. It is critical that students, parents and teachers understand the link between depression and suicide, learn to identify symptoms of depression and recognize it as a treatable illness.
The Adolescent Depression Awareness Program (ADAP) is an evidence-based curriculum designed to educate high school students, their teachers and their parents about adolescent depression so that more teens suffering with depression get the help they need.
Master’s-level health educators from the Weller Center have been specially trained to deliver the ADAP curriculum which includes school-based sessions for ninth or tenth grade students as well as faculty and parent education components. The programs feature lecture and discussion, DVD clips and interactive group activities.
The Weller Health Education Center
The mission of the Weller Health Education Center is to measurably improve children’s lives by giving students the tools they need to make informed and healthy life choices. Each year the Center partners with more than 500 schools to supplement and enhance the teaching of health, character education and life science for students grades K through 12. The Weller Health Education Center was the first not-for-profit health promotion, disease prevention education facility of its kind in Pennsylvania. Serving more than 1.4 million children since our inception in 1982, the Weller Center remains the only such center in our 39-county service area and one of just 34 health education centers across the nation. See www.wellercenter.org
About Capital BlueCross
Capital BlueCross is the leading health insurer in its region, providing health insurance coverage to residents in central Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley. Capital BlueCross is committed to making health insurance simple for its customers and members through all the stages of life by offering nationally acclaimed customer service and a full range of innovative benefit programs for groups and individuals at competitive prices. By establishing a culture of caring, Capital BlueCross constantly strives to do more in order to deliver more for the men, women and children who depend on the company for their health insurance needs. Capital BlueCross has been providing medical value to the people and communities of central Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley for more than 70 years and employs over 1,800 people in the region. Headquartered in Harrisburg, Pa., Capital BlueCross is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. More information about Capital BlueCross and its subsidiaries can be found by going to www.capbluecross.com.