Depression in young people: what causes it and can we prevent it?

Cumulative adverse experiences, including negative life events and early childhood adversity, together with parental depression and/or non-supportive school or familial environments, place young people at risk for developing depression. Enhanced life skills and supportive school and family environments can mediate the effect of stressful life events. Programs that enhance the school environment are associated with improved behaviour and wellbeing. Interventions that teach cognitive skills are associated with a short-term reduction in depressive symptoms. Current evidence suggests that for an intervention to be sustainable it must encompass multiple components across several levels: classroom, curriculum, whole school, and the school-community interface. Teaching interpersonal skills, including cognitive and problem-solving skills, should be coupled with the promotion of positive school and family environments to prevent depression in young people.