Assessing Knowledge, Perception and Coping Mechanisms of Students towards Depression: Input for Establishing Intervention Program for Depressed Students in Selected Schools in Partido

This study is entitled Assessing Knowledge, Perception and Coping Mechanisms of Students Towards Depression: Input for Establishing Intervention Program for Depressed Students in Selected Schools in Partido. Generally, it aimed to assess the knowledge, perception, and coping mechanisms of students towards depression as input for establishing intervention program for depressed students in selected schools in Partido. Specifically, it aimed to 1. Find out students’ knowledge and perception of depression, a. Causes b. Symptoms; 2. Examine the self-assessed degree of depression of students across sex, age, year level and family socio-economic status; 3. Assess the coping mechanisms for depression; and 4. Design an intervention program for depressed students in selected schools in Partido. This study was conducted in the selected schools in Partido district specifically in Lagonoy, San Jose, Goa and Tigaon, Camarines Sur since there were cases of depression among the students which have not been properly identified or diagnosed but needs to be addressed. The participants in this study were high school students in the selected schools in Partido who were identified by the key informants who were the Class Advisers and the Guidance Counselors. The sources of the data were gathered through survey (both online-using google form and onsite-in person-using printed copies of the survey questionnaire) and Becks Depression Inventory II (BDI II)/Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-DS) were also utilized. This study employed the Descriptive research design that aimed to systematically obtain information to describe a phenomenon, situation, or population. This study was conducted in the selected high schools in Partido District. It was during the height of the pandemic that this study was conducted where health and safety protocols were strictly observed, restrictions were set as per IATF Guidelines as well as the observance of the community quarantine status or alert levels. There were no in person classes in all the schools. The researchers visited the selected high schools to distribute the letters seeking permission of the school heads to be able to conduct the study. The subjects of the study were identified by the School Guidance Counselor who is more familiar with the cases of the students he/she usually handled in counseling. The authors resorted to the online platform using Google Forms since the respondents are just staying at their homes. The identified respondents were asked to answer the survey questionnaire through the links provided and was given to their School Guidance Counselor.