Teens ‘Leap’ out of depression

The 18-year-old Calgary university student is one of several youth volunteers who contributed to the Leap Project, an online intervention program for 13 to 18 year olds struggling with depression.

Trujillo brought personal experience to the table. She overcame a serious bout of depression brought on by the death four years ago of her great-grandmother, who raised her.

“I was thinking some terrible thoughts,” recalls Trujillo, “and it seemed like there was no way out. I thought how I was feeling wasn’t normal and I was ashamed to admit that I was depressed.”

The Leap Project, partially funded by Alberta Health Services (AHS), encourages youth to explore spiritual concepts through videos, personal stories from young people, suggestions from mental health experts, music and relaxation techniques.

Drs. Jordan Cohen, Badri Rickhi and John Toews, psychiatrists with AHS and the University of Calgary, will monitor 50 youth participating in a 24-week clinical trial and for four months after the trial.

Cohen, based at the Foothills Medical Centre, stresses the project focuses on spirituality, not religion.

“We are dealing with the adolescent years and that’s when you’re really starting to think about where do you fit in and when you’re starting to form your identity,” he says.

“Spirituality asks questions such as, ‘What is my role in the world?’ ‘What are my goals?’ and ‘What is my purpose?’ ”

The eight modules in the program are designed for teens to use at their own pace. Each module takes two to three hours to complete over the course of a week.

Cohen is excited about the possibility of referring clients to the project.

“We recognize teens are a part of the Internet generation and might not want to sit and wait to talk to someone,” he says. “They might want to have their therapy in brief snippets and have it at their own pace.”

Trujillo wishes the project was around when she was dealing with her depression.

“It would have made a big difference,” she says. “It can help you not only overcome the depression itself but it can help you learn a lot about yourself and just how to deal with the upcoming years … It’s a whole new perspective.”

Once the Leap project concludes in Calgary, a larger, multi-city study will follow.