The study will explore how many young people in upper comprehensive school (ages 13–17) need and are motivated for prevention or treatment of depression as well as actual content of treatment.
The study will take place as a multi-center study Finland in collaboration with schools, municipal education administrations, wellbeing services counties, and collaborative areas for healthcare and social welfare.
The study will be carried out by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) and the University of Eastern Finland and the University of Helsinki as part of the IMAGINE consortium funded by the Strategic Research Council, which operates within the Academy of Finland.
Goals
The goal of this study is to improve the accessibility and equity of depression treatment for young people in Finland. We will monitor the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of interpersonal counselling compared to cases in which depression goes untreated or the young person receives some other treatment.
More specifically, we will examine how young people benefit from interpersonal counselling (IPC-A). Follow-up data and questions describing employees' competence will be used to assess the benefits gained from the nationally implemented IPC-A implementation project.
Implementation
Young people in upper comprehensive schools from different parts of Finland were invited to participate in the study. The data were collected between March 26, 2024, and April 1, 2025.
In the study, data were collected through surveys from the young person, their guardian, and the professional who helped the young person. The surveys included questions about depressive symptoms, protective and risk factors for depression, as well as motivation for treatment and the treatment received. During the study, the young person responded to digital surveys for up to 12 months.
With the young person’s consent, we asked the guardian about the young person’s well-being and the benefits and adverse effects of the support or treatment received. Information about the content of treatment was obtained from the professional who helped the young person, along with details regarding their education and competence.
In addition, information on the young person’s use of services was supplemented with registry data.
Funding
IMAGINE consortium is funded by the Strategic Research Council, which operates within the Academy of Finland.
In 2025, the study is also funded by the Foundation for Pediatric Research.
Partners
Itla Children’s Foundation, Northern, Eastern, Inland, and Western Finland collaborative areas, Tampere University, University of Eastern Finland, University of Helsinki
Contact details
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