Assessment and Treatment of Depressive Disorders in Children & Adolescents

Course overview

Depressive disorders can be difficult to detect in children and adolescents. The effects of childhood depression often persist into adolescence and then adulthood. In this course, you will learn to identify different depressive disorders, as well as the unique ways depression manifests in children and adolescents. Additionally, you will learn to recognize risk factors for both depression and suicidality in youth. An integrated care model treats the whole child by combining primary care and mental healthcare in one setting. Within this model, treatment providers understand how to screen for depression and suicidality in order to coordinate care. You will learn about specific instruments useful for detecting depression and suicidality among youth. An understanding of the root causes of depression will highlight the rationale for various treatment approaches. Lastly, you will be able to describe the best practices available to help children and adolescents manage depression. The goal of this course is to provide behavioral health, marriage and family therapy, nursing, psychology, social work, and addiction professionals with information to identify depressive disorders among youth and methods to support them.