Here we look at two programs to help families and teens combat depression. Developed by the School of Applied Psychology Health & Behavioural Sciences Griffith University, Queensland.

The Resourceful Adolescent Project (RAP) was established in 1996 to develop, evaluate, and disseminate early intervention programs and research for adolescents at risk for depressive problems. There is compelling evidence that a large proportion of young people are experiencing feelings of depression. 

RAP is a response to evidence that increasing the psychological resilience or resourcefulness of a young person can prevent the development of depression.

The Resourceful Adolescent Project consists of the RAP-A program for adolescents and RAP-P for parents. The Resourceful Adolescent Programs are designed to be useful to all families, not specifically those experiencing immediate troubles. The program has been shown to provide a buffer against the development of future symptoms of depression.

Are the Resourceful Adolescent Programs effective?

The efficacy of the RAP Programs has been investigated in a number of large controlled research trials over the past four years.

An initial efficacy trial conducted in 1996 investigated the effect of RAP-A and RAP-P as universal school-based programs to reduce depressive symptoms. Results were very promising, as there were significant effects on depressive symptoms, confirming that the RAP 

Programs decrease depressive symptoms at post-intervention, (i.e. straight after the program is finished) and 10-month follow-up. The findings are also clinically significant in that students in RAP were far less likely to experience sub-clinical and clinical levels of depressive symptoms compared to the group that did not receive RAP.

In terms of the exclusive use of RAP-P without RAP-A, we do not yet have any outcome data indicating the effectiveness of the program. The effect of the program on parent confidence and family harmony over time is currently being investigated. However, the program expectancy assessments and evaluations have suggested that parents found the program relevant and useful to their current needs in parenting adolescent children.

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