'n Skoolgebaseerde ondersteuningsprogram vir die intermediêre leerder met depressie

Abstract

A shool-based support programme for the intermedediate learner wuth depression

This study is aimed at determining whether a school-based support programme can aid the intermediate learner with depression in decreasing his depression levels. It focuses on: the world of experience of the intermediate learner with depression; the role of the school as an overall health-promoting environment; and the creation of a school-based support programme for the intermediate learner with depression. The learner (the intermediate learner included) spends most of the day at school, so the educator can play an important role in identifying and following up problems and getting the school to function as a health-promoting environment. South African schools are focused mainly on primary and tertiary intervention, while secondary intervention reveals a serious deficiency. In the empirical investigation, 16 intermediate learners who were identified with depression were, involved in a purposeful convenience test sample by means of the CDI questionnaire. There was an experimental and a control group of eight members respectively. According to the results of the pretestposttest, the school-based support programme in which the experimental group participated caused their depression levels to decrease significantly. The need for a school support programme for the intermediate learner with depression was validated from this point of view.