Preventing Adolescent Depression in Mauritius: A Universal School-Based Program

Background: This study evaluated the efficacy of a universal prevention program for adolescent depresssion implemented by school teachers in Mauritius. Method: 160 adolescents were randomly assigned to the prevention program or wait-list. Results: Decreased depressive symptoms for the intervention condition were found post-intervention, but not at follow-up. Significant changes in self-esteem and coping skills were seen both post-intervention and at the follow-up. Conclusions: The results, drawing from a culturally diverse population, suggest that universal programs such as RAP-A may be better seen as promoting positive mental health, rather than having direct prevention or intervention effects on clinical problems. Key Practitioner Message The question of whether universal school-based programs can prevent depression in adolescents is unclear, with mixed findings from previous studies. The current study suggests that universal programs such as RAP: are acceptable to students and can be implemented by teachers in diverse cultural settings such as Mauritius can decrease symptoms of depression in the short-term, but appear to have little impact on symptoms in the longer term may have a more significant and longer term impact on increasing positive mental health, such as enhanced self-esteem and adaptive coping skills