Beauregard, AL

Coping with Anxiety and

Depression in Adolescence

Brooke Baird, Sarah Embry, Allison Kilroy, Emily Parish &

Hannah Wingate
 Background
● Community:
○ Beauregard, Alabama
● Target population:
○ Middle schoolers of Beauregard
● Health problem:
○ Beauregard high school students’ anxiety and depression levels as well as substance abuse
● HP 2020 objective:
○ “Increase the proportion of children with mental health problems who receive treatment”
Gathered Data
 Windshield Survey
● 3 gas stations with advertisements

● Agricultural land

● Grocery Store
○ Dollar General
● Places to eat
○ Subway
○ Mexican Restaurant
○ Gas station delis
● Churches
○ Providence Baptist Church
Windshield Survey
 Key Informant Interview
● Renae Robbins: Beauregard High School counselor
● Major health issues
○ inadequate access and transportation to health care facilities
○ depression and anxiety issues in adolescents
○ limited healthy food options
○ abuse of drugs and alcohol by adolescents
● Major strengths
○ Community Support
 Community Health Nursing Diagnosis
● Mental health and substance abuse were labeled as the
“At risk for anxiety and depression
second greatest health concern in the state of Alabama
among adolescents attending ○ Beauregard is a rural area:
Beauregard High School related to ■ Depression is more likely
tobacco use and obesity as ■ Lack of mental health providers

evidence by increased tobacco rates ○ If depression is left untreated:

■ Substance abuse can occur as a result
and as seen by the Beauregard High
○ Primary prevention beginning at the middle school level
School Counselor.”
■ Hopes to prevent the rising rates in high school
students
Intervention
 Literature Review
● “Substance abuse and mental health issues frequently occur together in the adolescent
population” Goossens, Lammers, Onrust, Conrod, Orobio de Castro and Monshouwer (2016)
● “Use of alcohol, drugs, and marijuana usually begins by age 13, with an earlier onset
correlating to increased substance abuse disorders later in life” Goossens, Lammers, Onrust,
Conrod, Orobio de Castro and Monshouwer (2016)

● Risks of substance abuse disorders:

○ “dropping out of school, delinquent behavior, physical harm or death”
● Maladaptive coping mechanisms for mental health issues:
○ Substance abuse- Nicotine (cigarettes, e-cigarettes, vaping)
■ Reduces anxiety-related behaviors
● Conclusion: PREVENTION IS KEY!
 Intervention
● Where
○ Sanford Middle School (5th-8th)
● Who
○ 25 pre-selected 7th & 8th graders
● How
○ PowerPoint presentation with open discussion
● Goals and objectives
○ Define substance abuse.
○ Identify signs and symptoms of anxiety and depression.
○ Identify healthy and unhealthy ways of coping.
○ Identify resources available to students for anxiety, depression, and
substance abuse.
 Evaluation
● Method:
○ Pre and post survey
● Analysis:
○ Results from the surveys were converted to percentages for comparison between the two.
● Results
○ Anxiety is characterized by the feelings of sadness, thoughts of self-harm, and frustration over small things.
■ Pretest: 12%
■ Posttest: 64%
○ Substance abuse is defined as the use of substances that alter how you perceive the world around you and how you
act.
■ Pretest: 80%
■ Posttest: 88%
○ Healthy coping strategies include smoking, overeating, and social isolation
■ Pretest: 84%
■ Posttest: 92%
○ I am able to talk to my parents, friends, and counselors when I need help.
■ Pretest: 96%
■ Posttest: 100%
Data analysis of surveys
 Conclusion
1) Beauregard, Alabama

2) Intervention Evaluation

3) Nursing Implications