January 20, 2010
Leap Project research team reaches out to teens with depression
Unique clinical trial offers new option for 13 – 18 year olds
(Calgary, AB) When Nayely Trujillo was 14 years old, her whole world changed. The great-grandmother who helped to raise her passed away suddenly, and she was left struggling to make it through her days. "I was thinking some terrible thoughts, and it seemed like there was no way out," says Trujillo, now 18 years old. "I thought how I was feeling wasn't normal, and I was ashamed to admit that I was depressed."
A school counselor noticed Trujillo's struggles and reached out to help. Over the next year, she worked her way out of her depression, attending counseling and joining a youth group at church. These days, she is earning a biology degree at Ambrose University and volunteering for a new program aimed at helping teens who are depressed.
The Leap Project, an initiative funded by Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions and the Sick Kids Foundation, is an intervention program for 13 – 18 year old teens. An online learning tool, it focuses on exploring spiritual concepts and features videos, personal stories from young people, suggestions from mental health experts, music, relaxation techniques and book ideas. All eight of the modules in the two-month program have been designed in consultation with teenagers.
"I went on facebook and found there was no shortage of young people who are struggling," says Sabine Moritz, research director of the Canadian Institute of Natural and Integrative Medicine (CINIM) and leader of the team that created the Leap Project. "Through the help of facebook, the Leap Project has 50 personal stories of teens from around the world. We have also relied upon 20 teen volunteers in Calgary who've given us their feedback, contributed to the jokes, personal stories and suggested ideas for music, books and videos."
The team is reaching out to 13 – 18 year olds in Calgary struggling with depression for the first clinical trial of the online program. The Leap Project, which is not faith-based, requires a weekly commitment of two to three hours, guiding the participants through eight modules designed to explore spiritual concepts and break free from depression. "The Leap Project is set up to meet young people on their own terms - one step at a time, with no pressure. The first module asks them just to breathe," says Moritz.
Dr. Jordan Cohen, Dr. Badri Rickhi and Dr. John Toews, psychiatrists with Alberta Health Services / University of Calgary, will monitor the progress of the participants during the trial, and for an additional 4 months after they've completed the study.
The Leap Project springs from previous research funded by Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions – a treatment program for adults with depression. Undertaken by Moritz and Dr. Hude Quan, PhD, an Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research population health investigator, the adult study, designed to nurture spiritual wellness, reported positive results. Researchers found that the home-based program decreased the severity of the participants' depression, improved overall mood and maintained those benefits for at least six months.
"Depression can actually be a real gift," says Moritz. "Because, on the other side of it, when you come out with a new understanding of yourself and about living life, you can really propel yourself forward."
Please note that AHFMR is now Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions, funded by the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research Endowment Fund.
Media contact:
Karen Thomas, Media Relations Specialist, Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions,
1.877.423.5727 x225, 403.651.1112 (cell),
For more information about Leap go to www.leapproject.org
To sign up for the study call Niki Rickhi, Leap coordinator at 403.220.0022 x 222.
Video content is available for download:
Leap Media Video (size: 126 MB)
Background
The research team also includes Patti Paccagnan, Niki Rickhi and Mary Kelly, researchers at CINIM, Dr. Hude Quan, PhD, a community health scientist at the University of Calgary Faculty of Medicine, Dawne Clark, PhD, an associate professor in child and youth studies at Mount Royal University as well as Reverend John Griffith, founder of Spiritual Directions.
Funding for the Leap Project has been provided by Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions, Alberta Health Services, and the Sick Kids Foundation.
Beyond the eight modules for teens, the Leap Project website has a section for parents to log in and preview the content that their teens will be experiencing. It also provides a section for doctors that explains the research methods and provides details on how to refer patients.
Depression in adolescents is on the rise with 6.5% of young men and 9.8% of young women in Canada suffering from depression. Signs of depression include persistent sadness, irritability, hopelessness, lack of self-worth, sleep and appetite problems as well as loss of interest in usual activities.
January 15, 2010
Reporters are invited to a media event launching the Leap Project – a new clinical trial aimed at helping teenagers living under a cloud of depression. The media event takes place on Wednesday, January 20th, 2010 between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. at the Canadian Institute of Natural and Integrative Medicine, 2020 – 18 Street NW.
The Leap Project is an online intervention program for 13 – 18 year old teens aimed at reducing depression. A web-based learning tool, it takes eight weeks to complete and includes eight modules with videos, music, personal stories from young people, suggestions from a mental health expert, relaxation techniques as well as video and book recommendations.
This launch will feature a demonstration of the Leap web modules, and interviews with the Leap team along with Nayely Trujillo, an 18-year old Calgarian who is one of 20 teen volunteers who helped design the Leap Project.
Leap team members include Sabine Moritz, research director of the Canadian Institute of Natural and Integrative Medicine (CINIM), Dr. Hude Quan, PhD, an Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research population health investigator from the University of Calgary Faculty of Medicine. The research team includes other experts from CINIM, the University of Calgary, Alberta Health Services, Mount Royal University and Spiritual Directions. Psychiatrists Drs. Jordan Cohen, Badri Rickhi and John Toews will monitor the progress of participants in the trial.
| WHAT: | Leap Project research team reaches out to teens with depression | |
| WHEN: | Wednesday, January 20, 2010, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. | |
| WHERE: | Canadian Institute of Natural and Integrative Medicine | |
| 2020 – 18 Street NW |
Please note that AHFMR is now Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions, funded by the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research Endowment Fund.
Media contact:
Karen Thomas, Media Relations Specialist, Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions,
1.877.423.5727 x225, 403.651.1112 (cell),