Prevention Strategies

Our prevention research focuses on identifying and implementing interventions that can stop depression before it starts or prevent relapse in those with previous episodes. This includes studying early intervention programs for at-risk youth (such as children of individuals with depression), resilience-building interventions for individuals exposed to trauma or chronic stress, school-based mental health programs, and family-based approaches that target intergenerational transmission of depression risk. We investigate both universal prevention strategies applicable to entire populations and indicated prevention for high-risk individuals identified through biomarkers or risk algorithms. Our work also examines lifestyle factors including exercise, nutrition, sleep hygiene, and stress management as preventive approaches. By shifting from solely treating depression to proactively preventing its onset, we aim to reduce the enormous personal and societal burden of this condition.