Telehealth Behavioral Activation for Teens

Behavioral activation is one such empirically supported intervention. Derived from cognitive-behavioral therapy, a well-established treatment for depression, behavioral activation uses psychoeducation and skill-building to increase an individual's engagement in valued and enjoyable activities (e.g., socializing with family and friends, exercising, participating in a hobby) in order to improve depressive symptoms. Research has shown that behavioral activation is an effective intervention for depressed youth. Additionally, it has been shown as a promising intervention that can be conducted in a brief, virtual format and can be effectively implemented by both trained clinicians and trained, non-licensed interventionists. This project will provide Behavioral Activation for youth (12-17) experiencing depression or suicidal ideation who are currently enrolled in the Youth Depression Suicide Network study in Texas.

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Participants must be enrolled in the Texas Youth Depression Suicide Research Network (TX-YDSRN) Registry Study; 2. Be between the ages of 12- 18 or currently enrolled in high school; 3. Have a caregiver that is willing to participate in the program; 4. Be able to commit to weekly sessions for eight weeks; 5. Be currently experiencing depressive symptoms; 6. Be able to participate in telehealth services within the state of Texas; 7. Be willing to provide consent/assent (parents/legally authorized representative (LAR)/guardian or young adult participant, aged 18 or older, must be willing to provide consent; youth, aged 12-17, must be willing to provide assent); 8. Be able to read, write and speak English or Spanish sufficiently to understand the study procedures and provide written informed consent to participate in the study; 9. Be willing to dedicate appropriate time to complete scheduled study assessment and measures and attend intervention sessions (both parent/LAR/guardian and youth) 10. Be able to provide a reliable means of contact. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Have an acute medical or psychological condition(s) that that would, in the judgment of the study medical clinician, make participation difficult or unsafe; 2. Have an acute medical or psychological condition(s) that would result in an inability to accurately complete study requirements (e.g., neurological conditions or significant neurodevelopmental concerns); 3. Have active psychotic or manic symptoms resulting in altered mental status and inability to provide assent or requiring immediate attention and/or higher level of intervention; 4. Have a parent/LAR/guardian who is deemed cognitively unable to provide consent (if youth participant, aged 12-17).