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Survey of Minnesota Parent Attitudes Regarding School-Based Depression and Suicide Screening and Education

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Abstract

School-based depression screening and education programs are recommended for addressing the high rates of children’s mental illness. The objectives of this study were to (1) identify Minnesota parent attitudes regarding the provision of school-based depression and suicide screening and education and (2) identify predictors of parent support for these school-based programs. A random sample of 1,300 Minnesota households with children ages 5–18 years was surveyed by mail. Chi-square tests and regression analyses were used to detect differences in parent support for depression and suicide screening and education across demographic categories, and parent beliefs and knowledge about depression and suicide. The response rate of eligible households was 43 % (N = 511). Overall, 84–89 % of parents supported school-based depression and suicide screening and education. After adjusting for all variables, parent support for depression screening was associated with greater knowledge [OR 8.48, CI(1.30–55.21)] and fewer stigmatizing beliefs [OR 0.03, CI(0.01–0.12)]. Support for suicide screening was associated with fewer stigmatizing beliefs [OR 0.03, CI(0.01-0.10)]. Support for depression education was associated with fewer stigmatizing beliefs [OR 0.32, CI(0.10–1.00)] and lower educational attainment [OR 0.59, CI(0.40–0.89)]. Support for suicide education was associated with greater knowledge [OR 7.99, CI(1.02–62.68)], fewer stigmatizing beliefs [OR 0.26, CI(0.07–0.92)], and lower educational attainment [OR 0.60, CI(0.38–0.94)]. Parent support for school-based depression and suicide screening and education was high. Parent education to decrease stigmatizing beliefs and increase knowledge about depression and suicide may increase support among the minority of parents who do not endorse such programs.

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Acknowledgments

The lead author of this study was supported in part, during her fellowship when the project was conducted, by the Adolescent Health Protection Research Training Program (School of Nursing, University of Minnesota) grant number T01 DP000112 (PI: Bearinger) from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the CDC.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, 2450 Riverside Avenue, 6th floor, east building, Minneapolis, MN, 55454, USA

    Claudia K. Fox

  2. School of Nursing, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Barbara J. McMorris & Sandra L. Pettingell

  3. Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, 717 Delaware St. SE, 3rd floor, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA

    Marla E. Eisenberg & Iris W. Borowsky

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  1. Claudia K. Fox
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  2. Marla E. Eisenberg
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  3. Barbara J. McMorris
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  4. Sandra L. Pettingell
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  5. Iris W. Borowsky
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Correspondence to Claudia K. Fox.

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Fox, C.K., Eisenberg, M.E., McMorris, B.J. et al. Survey of Minnesota Parent Attitudes Regarding School-Based Depression and Suicide Screening and Education. Matern Child Health J 17, 456–462 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-012-1017-8

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