Local students to get lessons on depression
Posted January 17, 2013 11:48 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
SURREY (NEWS1130) – Students in schools within the Fraser Health Authority are about to learn more about mental health.
It’s all about being proactive among a vulnerable population, says the health region’s Dr. Karen Tee, who points out 10 per cent of young people suffer from a mental illness.
“What we are doing here is trying to get to young people before problems escalate. Also, by educating young people about mental health issues, it’s reaching a broad range of youth, attending schools, colleges and universities,” she says.
“Why this is important is because this is when mental health issues start to develop. From age 13 to 25 is when these problems start to emerge.”
Fraser Health is partnering up with schools to deliver a lesson plan about mental health. It has launched Speakup, an interactive website where young people can get answers to their personal questions.
Students will learn to identify the early signs of depression, which include loss of interest in the usual activities and sleep problems.
