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.

3 | Page

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.

4 | Page

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

Jehovah Witness

SDA

Pentecostal

Rastafarianism

other ________________

4. How frequently do you attend church?

Never

Sometimes

Rarely

Often

Always

5. What type of family are you from?

Single

nuclear

extended

combined

sibling

6. How do you usually feel?

Moody

Confused

Sad

Angry

Scared

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

19.

Very much

24.

Somewhat Close

25.

Not close at all

16.
Somewhat
20.
21. What is your relationship with you parent like?
22.

Very close

23.

Moderately close

7 | Page

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

39.

Friends

40.

Parent/

41.

Relatives

Guardian
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.
56.

Yes
57.

58.

No

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%

Percentage of Respondents

5%
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%

4%
13%

Fatigue
Loss of Interest in Activities
Loss of Appetite
Feeling of Hopelessness

42%

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.

107.

16

108.

Never

109.

13

110.

68

111.

Always

112.

113.

114.

Sometimes

115.

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

Relatives

Counsellor

Parents/Guardians

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
1. SOLUTIONS

Respond
ents

4. Implementing youth character building programs

7. Provide an environment where students can feel safe

and comfortable to seek counselling

10. Teach students problem solving skills in HFLE
13. Teachers should be trained in identifying symptoms of

depression in students

3. % of

Respond
ents

136.
137.

5. 5

6. 26

138.

8. 5

9. 26

139.

11. 2

12. 11

14. 6

15. 32

Qu

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 ones 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 adolescents 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 schools 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

2.

amongst adolescents.
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 students 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-preventionhelping-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?

186.
189.

183.
Male
Female

184.

No. of Respondents
187. 12
190. 9
192.

185.

% of Respondents
188. 57
191. 43

2. What is your age range?

193.
196.
199.
202.
205.

194.

No. of
Respondents
197.
1
200.
11
203.
9

10-13
14-15
16-17

195.

% of
Respondents
198.
5
201.
52
204.
43

3. What denomination/religion do you belong to?

206.
209.
212.
215.
218.
221.

207.

No. of
Respondents
210.
9
213.
3
216.
6
219.
2

Catholic
SDA
Pentecostal
Other

208.

% of
Respondents
211.
45
214.
15
217.
30
220.
10

4. How frequently do you attend church?

222.
225.
228.
231.
234.
237.
240.
241.
242.
243.

223.
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Always

No. of Respondents
226.
4
229.
3
232.
5
235.
5
238.
2

224.

% of Respondents
227.
21
230.
16
233.
26
236.
26
239.
11

244.
5. What type of family are you from?
245.
248.
251.
254.
257.

246.

No. of Respondents
249.
6
252.
10
255.
3

247.

% of Respondents
250.
32
253.
53
256.
16

259.

No. of Respondents
262.
7
265.
2
268.
4
271.
2
274.
4

260.

% of Respondents
263.
37
266.
11
269.
21
272.
11
275.
21

No. of Respondents
281.
2
284.
6
287.
5
290.
5

279.

% of Respondents
282.
11
285.
33
288.
28
291.
28

Single
Nuclear
Combined

6. How you do usually feel?

258.
261.
264.
267.
270.
273.
276.

Moody
Sad
Confused
Angry
Other

7. Have you ever been depressed?

277.
280.
283.
286.
289.
292.

278.
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often

8. Has anyone in your household suffered from depression?

293.
296.
299.
302.
305.
306.
307.
308.
309.
310.

294.
Yes
No
Other

No. of
Respondents
297.
9
300.
9
303.
1

295.

% of
Respondents
298.
50
301.
50
304.
6

311.
9. What do you do when you feel depressed?
312.
315.
318.
321.
Under eat
324.
327.
others
330.
myself
333.
336.

313.
Smoke
Withdraw
Overeat or

No. of
Respondents
316.
1
319.
5
322.
3

314.

% of
Respondents
317.
5
320.
26
323.
16

Sleep
Take it out on

325.
328.

3
4

326.
329.

16
21

Feel sorry for

331.

332.

Cut myself

334.

335.

11

10. What do you think is the root cause of depression amongst adolescents?
337.
340.
343.
Changes
346.
349.
352.
355.
358.
one
361.
364.
School
367.
Neglected
370.

338.
Peer Pressure
Hormonal

No. of
Respondents
341.
6
344.
1

339.

% of
Respondents
342.
35
345.
6

Relationship
Insecurities
Family Conflict
Bullying
Loss of loved

347.
350.
353.
356.
359.

6
1
4
4
1

348.
351.
354.
357.
360.

35
6
24
24
6

Social Issues
Failure at

362.
365.

2
1

363.
366.

12
6

Feeling

368.

369.

24

11. How often do you go out just for fun with your friends or family?
371.
374.
377.
380.

372.
Never
Sometimes
Often

No. of
Respondents
375.
2
378.
9
381.
7

373.

% of
Respondents
376.
11
379.
50
382.
39

383.
12. Does your future seem hopeless?
384.
387.
390.
393.
396.
399.
402.

385.

No. of Respondents
388. 14
391. 2
394. 1
397. 1
400. 1

Not at all
Just a little
Somewhat
Moderately
Quite a lot

386.

% of Respondents
389. 74
392. 11
395. 5
398. 5
401. 5

406.

% of Respondents
409. 37
412. 11
415. 26
418. 26

422.

% of Respondents

403.
13. What is your relationship with you parent like?
404.
407.
410.
413.
416.
419.

405.

No. of Respondents
408. 7
411. 2
414. 5
417. 5

Very close
Moderately close
Somewhat close
Not close at all

14. What are some effects of depression on adolescents?

420.

421.

423.
Difficulty
Concentrating
426.
Chronic Pain
429.
Fatigue
432.
Loss of interest
in activities
435.
Loss of
appetite
438.
Feeling of
hopelessness
441.
Other
444.

No. of
Respondents
424.
2

425.

427.
430.
433.

1
3
5

428.
431.
434.

4
13
21

436.

437.

439.

10

440.

42

442.

443.

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

445.
448.
451.

446.
Often
Never

No. of
Respondents
449.
3
452.
13

447.

% of
Respondents
450.
16
453.
68

454.
457.
460.

Always
Sometimes

455.
458.

1
2

456.
459.

5
11

16. Whom have you sought help from for your depression?
461.
464.
467.
470.
Guardians
473.
476.
479.

462.
Teacher
Friends
Parents/

No. of
Respondents
465.
3
468.
8
471.
1

Relatives
Other

474.
477.

2
5

463.

% of
Respondents
466.
16
469.
42
472.
5
475.
478.

11
26

480.
481.
482.
483.
484.
17. What do you suggest that the school do to reduce the number of depressed students?
485.
488.
Implementing youth
character building
programs
491.
Provide and
environment where
students can feel safe and
comfortable to seek
counselling
494.
Teach students
problem solving skills in
HFLE
497.
Teachers
should be trained in
identifying symptoms of
depression in students

486.

No. of
Respondents
489.
5

487.

% of
Respondents
490.
26

492.

493.

26

495.

496.

11

498.

499.

32

500.
503.

Other

501.

502.

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

504.

505.

507.
Teachers
should develop
relationships with students
510.
Teachers
should give students more
time to complete
assignments
513.
Schools should
work in collaboration with
parents
516.

No. of
Respondents
508.
11

506.

% of
Respondents
509.
58

511.

512.

16

514.

515.

26

19. Are there any institutions where depressed students can get help?
517.
520.
523.
526.

518.
Yes
No

527.
528.
529.
530.
531.

No. of
Respondents
521.
14
524.
4

519.

% of
Respondents
522.
78
525.
22