Chapter 1

Introduction

Depression is a distress because it is a serious medical illness that affects

negatively how a person feel, the way he/she thinks, and how he/she acts. It is a mood

disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest in activities once

enjoyed, but sometimes because of this disorder you may feel as if life is not worth

living. Depression can also lead to an emotional and physical problem and can decrease

a person’s ability to interact with other people and to function at work and at home.

Every individual needs to know about this disorder because they may experience it or

any of their family members and to have certain knowledge so people can help and

support a person that suffers from this disorder. Knowing these strategies can also help

people to prevent and alleviate the cases of depression in our society.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

This research aims at finding out the preventive strategies for depression.

Specifically, it will attempt to answer the following questions:

1. What is depression?

2. What are the kinds of depression?

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 3. What causes depression?

4. What are the effects of depression?

IMPORTANCE OF THE STUDY

The result of the study will be beneficial to the following:

1. Researchers

For the researchers, this study will develop their critical thinking skills. The study

will also help the researchers to gain information about depression. After gathering

information, the researchers will analyze the data, whether it is a complaint or a

suggestion.

2. Students

The study will determine the students’ perception towards depression. The

researchers will collect information that can be used to identify what are the effects of

depression to students. This study will also help students that experience emotional

disorder.

3. School

The school, as a community, will benefit from this study. This study is about the

perception of the students about depression. Thus, the school community will be aware

of depression and how they can prevent depression.

2
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Depression is prevalent among people who are incapable in handling their

problems in life. Students experience depression that can lead them to fail in their

studies and think about suicide. This is why the group wants to deepen their

knowledge about this mental health issue. The group wants to help students who are

experiencing depression and to make them know how to prevent depression.

The group came up with this kind of problem because as a student, the group

also experience difficulties in life that may lead them to depression. The first thing the

group would like to know is what depression really is and what are its kinds because by

this, the group can have certain knowledge about depression. The group also wants to

know what causes an individual to have depression and how it can affect them.

Knowing the causes of depression can help the group to determine the main reason

why people experience depression.

Having the knowledge about depression may help the group to prevent people

from experiencing it. The group may also know how they can help people the next time

an individual experience depression. The cases of suicide due to depression can be

lowered and stopped if people have a certain idea about this.

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SCOPE AND DELIMITATION

The study covers the preventive strategies for depression. The study is delimited

to Pateros Catholic School Grade 11 students from different strands. In this research,

the Pateros Catholic School Grade 11 students will be surveyed and interviewed. This

research can also help students that are experiencing depression.

The group plans to conduct an interview and a survey to be answered by the

Pateros Catholic School Grade 11 students from different strands pertaining to the

problem of depression. The questions are constructed to know their opinion about

depression. The collected information will serve as a representation on how they can

relate to this problem, the number of students that experienced depression, and how

they think to prevent depression.

This research will take place at Pateros Catholic School Senior High School

because the study is delimited to the Grade 11 students from different strands of

Pateros Catholic School. The survey and interview will be conducted during recess and

lunch. It will be conducted during recess and lunch to avoid disturbance of classes.

4
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Depression is an emotional stage that results from various stressful life events

that a person encounters. www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/what-causes-

depression (retrieved on July 2018) states that when genetics, biology, and stressful life

situations come together, depression can result. Stress plays a significant role in

depression; it is the one that forces people to change their natural behavior and

attitude that causes them to change their mood patterns which negatively affects the

way they interact with other people. Stress can affect the physical and emotional state

of a person. If the stress encountered is not constant or consistent, it will not have

much of an impact to the life of the person, but continuous and excessive stress might

have a destructive effect on the brain and the body that can be long-lasting.

On the other hand, Furnham, A. (2008) explains, “This may have occurred for

many reasons: parental depression, parental or peer criticism or rejection; death or

divorce of a parent.” The factors that can increase the chance of depression are

emotional abuse, death or loss, conflict, genetics, personal problems, and substance

abuse. There are a lot of reasons why depression occur like an event, personal

problems, and pressure in school work, office and at house. Thus,

www.urmc.rochester.edu (retrieved on July 2018) states, “But knowing the risk factors,

sporting it early, and getting expert help for your teen can help ease symptoms and

improve your teen’s quality of life.” Depression has no single cause but many factors,

such as genetics and environment. Without treatment, major depression can last for
5
weeks, months, or even years and it can cause relationship and social problems that are

linked to a higher risk of suicide. Depression is a type of mood disorder wherein if not

treated earlier, it may affect an individual’s life. A person knows exactly that he/she is

depressed whenever he/she experiences a difficult breakup and the death of a close

friend or a family member. The reason a person experience depression is not clear and

not caused by only one, but a variety of factors that can accumulate over time.

Furthermore, the attitude of a depressed person, according to

www.cmhc.utexas.edu/depression (retrieved on July 2018) are, “diminished interest in

and enjoyment of previously pleasurable activities such as going out with friends,

sports, hobbies, sex, etc., difficulty concentrating or making decisions, neglecting

responsibilities and personal appearance.” Depression is a serious medical illness that

affects how an individual think, feel, and act. People who are suffering from depression

have no reason to like themselves anymore and feel that they are worthless. There are

depressives who commit suicide. The whole being of a depressed person is filled with

fear, anger, guilt, and despair. People who are depressed want themselves to be

isolated. They want to distance themselves from other people. Depression is suffered

by people who see no reason to like themselves at all. (Rowe, D. 1983)

Specifically, depression is treatable, it maybe through medications or through

consultations such as therapy. Many people get sick, both emotionally and physically. It

is uncomfortable to deny that an individual has mental illness. It is also tragic if an

individual does not do anything to prevent this from happening again. Medications are

not for everyone, yet it helps a lot of people. Medications that help combat depression

6
are called anti-depressants, such as Monoamine oridate inhibitors (MAOI) and selective

serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). An example of this is Flouxetine (Prozac).

Therapy is another type of treatment to cure depression. There are two effective types

of therapy methods; one is behavior therapy and interpersonal therapy. (Singco-

Holmes, M.G. 2010)

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 Chapter 2

Methodology

The researchers use phenomenology method. This method uses survey and

interview process in gathering data for the study.

The researchers used a survey questionnaire for the data collection. The survey

questionnaire has two parts: The demographic questions which include the age,

gender, and strand. The second part consists of the five questions that are connected

with the common symptoms that may lead to depression. The group chose the

population frame of Grade 11 ABM students namely, St. Christopher and St.

Homobonus. The total number respondents are 73 including the researchers. The

questionnaires are distributed to the two sections of Grade 11 ABM students of Pateros

Catholic School Senior High School with the approval of Mr. Alvin A. Altarejos. The

leader of group 6 asked the president of the two sections to distribute the survey

questionnaires to the class during their lunch break and collect it after class to avoid

disturbance of classes.

Considering the researchers topic about depression, the researchers chose Mr.

Rainer R. Custodio, Mr. Jhovy P. Malasig, and Mrs. Genalyn D.C. Ludor for their

interview. The researchers conducted an unstructured interview wherein they gave the

interview questions to the interviewees and gathered them after they answered. The

interview has only four questions to be answered by the interviewees. The researchers

8
gave the interview questions to Mr. Jhovy P. Malasig during lunch break since he stays

at the SHS building. For the reason that Mr. Rainer R. Custodio and Mrs. Genalyn D.C.

Ludor stays at JHS building, the researchers decided to give the interview questions

after class. The researchers had a difficulty in gathering all the interview questions due

to the different schedules of each interviewee.

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 Chapter 3

Analysis and Interpretation of Data

This chapter compromises the analysis and interpretation of all the gathered data

as the next step of the research process. The analysis and interpretation of data is

carried out in two phases. The first part, which is based on the results of the survey

questionnaire and the second part, which is based on the results of the interview.

Strand: ABM

Table 1

Sex No. of Respondents Percentage

Female 45 61.64%
Male 28 38.36%
Total 73 100%

Seventy-three (73) of the respondents from Grade 11 ABM students of

Pateros Catholic School were taken for this study. The respondents are composed

of forty-five (45) females and twenty-eight (28) males ages 15-17. There are thirty-

seven (37) respondents from St. Homobonus and thirty-six (36) respondents from

St. Christopher. The total of respondents can be seen in the table below

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 Table 2

Age No. of Respondents Percentage

15 5 7.46%
16 48 65.75%
17 20 27.40%
18 0 0%
Total 73 100%

The age bracket of the respondents is 15-17 years old. Five (5) students

are 15 years old, forty-eight (48) are 16 years old, and twenty (20) are 17 years

old. There are no respondents that aged 18 years old and above.

1.1 Survey Results

This part is composed of the results of the survey that has been done by the

researchers. In this part the answers of the respondents were showed and explained.

The following tables for every question were interpreted base on the data.

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 Table 3

Question #1 I have little interest or pleasure in doing things.

Answers Respondents Percentage

Yes 44 60.27%
No 29 39.73%
Total: 73 100%

According to the survey, most of the students from Grade 11 ABM have little

interest in doing things. This means that the students do not give value in doing their

task that will help them to develop themselves. This affect the grades of the students

because they are less productive.

Table 4

Question #2 I have troubles falling asleep, staying asleep, or sleeping

too much.

Answers Respondents Percentage

Yes 52 71.23%
No 21 28.77%
Total: 73 100%

According to the survey, most of the students from Grade 11 ABM have troubles

falling asleep, staying asleep, or sleeping too much.This explains that the students have

difficulties with their sleeping habits. This also shows why some students have a poor

performance in school.

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 Table 5

Question #3 I feel bad about myself – or I feel that I am a failure.

Answers Respondents Percentage

Yes 47 64.38%
No 26 35.62%
Total: 73 100%

According to the survey, most of the students from Grade 11 ABM feel bad about

themselves and feel that they are a failure. This shows that the students lack self-

esteem and think negatively about themselves. The students are not confident to

express what they feel.

Table6

Question #4 I have troubles in concentrating on things like school

work, reading, or watching television.

Answers Respondents Percentage

Yes 39 53.42%
No 34 46.58%
Total: 73 100%

According to the survey, most of the students from Grade 11 ABM have troubles

in concentrating on school work, reading, and watching televisions. This shows why

thestudents have poor performance in school. This also explains why does not have a

good output in their school works.

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 Table 7

Question #5 I have thoughts that I would be better off dead, or of

hurting myself in some way.

Answers Respondents Percentage

Yes 22 30.14%
No 51 69.86%
Total: 73 100%

According to the survey, most of the students from Grade 11 ABM do not have

the thoughts of hurting themselves. This explains that there are still students that have

thoughts that they are better off dead and hurt themselves. This also explains that the

students value their own life.

Survey Interpretation

After gathering the data from the respondents, most of the students are prone of

being depressed. The data shows that the students have a problem with their sleeping

habits, concentrating on their studies, and doing their individual tasks. This means that

the students are having a poor performance in school. There are students that have the

thoughts of hurting themselves because they think negatively. The lack of self-esteem

of the students also contributes to their thoughts of hurting themselves. On the other

hand, most of the students do not have the thoughts of hurting themselves. This means

that the students still value and appreciate their own life.

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1.2 Interview Results

This part is composed of the results of the interview that has been done

by the researchers. In this part the answers of the respondents were showed

and explained.

Mr. Jhovy P. Malasig

1.) What are the factors that trigger depression?

There are numerous factors that can contribute to the onset of

depression. Depression is chiefly caused by an imbalance in the production of

neurotransmitters in the brain. Other factors that can aggravate this include

learned helplessness, profound sadness, and feelings of loneliness.

2.) What happens to a person when he/she gets depressed?

When a person is depressed, he/she would experience symptoms like

fluctuations in weight, difficulties in sleeping, and suicide ideation.

3.) How can depression affect someone physically?

A depressed person’s physical symptoms include over fatigue, muscular

pains, and fluctuations in weight.

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4.) What do you think is the best remedy or treatment for depression?

A number of treatments are available for depressed people like therapy or

even medication.

Mr. Rainer R. Custodio

1.) What are the factors that trigger depression?

For me, a big change, or struggle in life and even a traumatic experience

can trigger a case of depression.

2.) What happens to a person when he/she gets depressed?

It will affect his/her thought and feelings that will impact on how he/she

act and talk and his/her relationships with others.

3.) How can depression affect someone physically?

When depression goes over the limit of these symptoms such as sadness

and anger, he/she might bring harmful activities to any person or even to

himself/herself.

4.) What do you think is the best remedy or treatment for depression?

 Encouragement about knowing the purpose of life.

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  Listening to a person with depression and show that there is

somebody who is with him/her all throughout his/her life.

Mrs. Genalyn D.C. Ludor

1.) What are the factors that trigger depression?

Depression can be caused by several factors but does not have a single

cause. Some people carry genes that increase their risk of depression but not all

people with depression have these genes and not all people with these genes

have depression. The surroundings, life experiences and stressful situation may

trigger depression.

2.) What happens to a person when he/she gets depressed?

 Lack of interest in doing most activities including those you once

enjoyed

 Persistent feeling of sadness and hopeless

 Difficulty in making decisions, thinking, and concentrating

 Decrease/Increase in appetite

 Restless/Fatigue

 Multiple thoughts of death or suicide/attempt suicide

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3.) How can depression affect someone physically?

We all feel burnt out from time to time, but if you have been feeling in

explicably tired even when you are getting to bed early, it would be a sign that

you are depressed. People with depression experience tension in their neck,

back, or joints or others might feel a general tightness in their chest, as well as

irregular breathing patterns.

4.) What do you think is the best remedy or treatment for depression?

Get enough sleep by making some changes to your lifestyle. Go to bed

and get up the same time every day and try not to nap. Take all the distractions

out of your bedroom- No computer and no television. In time you may find your

sleep improving.

Interview Interpretation

According to the result of the interview, there are several factors that

cause depression to happen but do not have a single cause. However, the most

common factor that causes depression is the life experiences of the person.

These life experiences of the person can affect him/her mentally and

emotionally. When a person is depressed, the brain is the main area of the body

that is affected. It also changes the mood of the person; change his/her actions,

18
thoughts, and relationship with other people. On the other hand, depression also

changes the physical appearance of a person. The weight of an individual lowers

when they are depressed. Depressives also have the feeling of fatigue and

muscular pains. Based on the results, there are different methods to treat

depression.

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 Chapter 4

Conclusion and Recommendations

CONCLUSION

To sum up the study, the researchers determined the perception of the Grade 11

ABM students to depression. The objectives of the research study have been achieved

through the data, survey, and interview conducted by the researchers.

Based on the data from the survey, the Grade 11 ABM students have the

possibility to experience depression. Most of the students experience lack of interest in

doing things, problems with their sleeping habits, and lack of self-esteem. These may

cause students to have a poor performance in school and have displeasure in studying.

Depression is serious medical illness that needs to be prevented so that it may not

affect the students and the school. If depression will be common among the students, it

will mainly reflect the image of the school to other people.

On the other hand, based on the data gathered from the survey, the students do

not have the thoughts of committing suicide and hurting themselves but there are still

students that find themselves to be better off dead. From this, we can say that there

are possibilities that a student may commit suicide. Depression can be prevented if we

can help each other. This study can be helpful for the students who want to have an

idea about depression and how can it affect the totality of a person.

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RECOMMENDATION

In accordance to the research study, the group recommends the school to invite

a psychologist to conduct a seminar about depression. This will mainly help the

students to be aware of depression and what are its negative effects to the people

especially to the students.

The group also recommends the school to have a program that helps in

strengthening the relationship of the parents with their child. This will help the students

to rebuild their connections with their parents. This may also decrease the symptoms of

depression a student may experience because they may develop talking their problems

with their parents.

The group also recommends the students to have a monthly check up with a

doctor to maintain the health of the physical and mental aspects of the body. This may

help the students in monitoring their own body status.

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 References

Books

-Rowe, D. (1996). Depression: The way out of your prison. London: Routledge.
-Holmes, M.G.S. (2010). Down to 1: Depression stories. Pasig City: Anvil Publishing.
-Furnham, A. (2008). 50 Ideas you really need to know: Psychology. London: Quercus
Publishing.

Thesis

-Ovuga, E. (2005). Depression and suicidal behavior in Uganda. Retrieved from:

(https://openarchive.ki.se>handle>thesis)
-Barret, A. (2012). Depression and its relationship to physical activity and obesity.
Retrieved from:
(https//kb.osu.edu/dspace/bitstream/handle/18811/51901/Ann_Barret_thesis.pdf
&ved)
-Khursid, S., et al. (2013). Effects of depression on students’ academic performance.
Retrieved from: (https://www.researchgate.net>publication)

Newspaper

-Mendoza-Dayrit, M. (2007, November 20). How emotions can kill you. Philippine Star,
p.E-4

Websites

-“Major Depression in Teens”, retrieved from

https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=90&co
ntentid=P01614 on August 08, 2018.

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-“Six common depression types”, retrieved from https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-
and-mood/six-common-depression-types on August 09, 2018
-“Types of depression”, retrieved from https://web.stanford.edu/group/mood/cgi-
bin/wordpress/?p=446 on August 08, 2018.
-“Depression”, retrieved from https://cmhc.utexas.edu/depression.html on August 08,
2018.
-“What causes depression?” , retrieved from https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-
mood/what-causes-depression on August 07, 2018.
-“Depression: What are signs and symptoms”, retrieved from
http://mentalhealth.fitness/learn-about-your-diagnosis/depression/ August 07,
2018.
-“Signs and symptoms of depression-Causes and effects”, retrieved from
https://www.psychguides.com/guides/depression-symptoms-causes-and-effects/
August 07, 2018.
-Grohol, J. (2017). Introduction to depression: Psychcentral. Retrieved from:
(https://psychcentral.com/disorders/depression/Introduction-depression).

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APPENDICES

24
Graphs showing the results of the survey:

1.) I have little interest or 2.) I have troubles falling asleep,

pleasure in doing things. staying asleep, or sleeping too
much.

29%
40% Yes Yes
60% No No
71%

3.) I feel bad about myself – or I 4.) I have troubles in

feel that I am a failure. concentrating on things like
school work, reading, or watching
television.

36%
Yes Yes
43%
No 57%
64% No

5.) I have thoughts that I would

be better off dead, or of hurting
myself in some way.

30%

Yes
No

70%

25