Resilience in Adolescent Development (RAD) Study
Mental illness, such as depression, often begins early in life. Approximately one in 11 children experience some form of depression before the age of 14, and many report their first episode of depression occurred between the ages of 12 and 13. This timeframe is also a critical phase in adolescent brain development that could have far-reaching consequences on their physical, emotional, and social well-being as adults.
Resilience and risk factors related to youth depression are not well understood, and addressing mental illness in youth will not only require screening and treatment, but also early intervention and prevention for those at risk. Particularly, little is known about how to build resilience, which is an interactive process that occurs as a result of life events, individual characteristics, and environmental influences. As we begin to understand how this process works, we may begin to identify strategies to improve resilience, and thereby reduce the risk of serious mental illness.
Resilience in Adolescent Development (RAD) is a 10-year study of 1,500 participants (ages 10-24) that will help uncover the factors that contribute to resilience among children, adolescents, and young adults at risk for mood and anxiety disorders.