Indian Journal of Positive Psychology

John Jacob ¹, Rosalito G. De Guzman ²

Affiliations
1 Graduate School, University of Santo Tomas, Espana, Manila, PH
2 Department of Psychology, University of Santo Tomas, Espana, Manila, PH

Abstract

Adolescent depression is a severe mental health problem. Depressed female adolescents habitually seek and retain negative experiences. Despite the flourishing national economy and the rapid increase in human development, the Philippines has the highest incidence of depression in South East Asia. The aim of this study is to describe the processes of development and implementation of 'Taking in the Good Based-Bibliotherapy Intervention Program” for female adolescents to reduce depression. As an innovative type of psychotherapy treatment, which utilizes the elements of positive neuroplasticity and the principles of bibliotherapy, the program aimed to help them to build up their inner strengths by experiencing, enriching and absorbing daily events with a positive attitude and installing them in the brain. The process involves two phases: 1) determining the components of the taking in the good based-bibliotherapy intervention through research and survey; 2) the use of multi-disciplinary team of school directress, guidance counselor, teaching staff; team of clinical experts of psychotherapy and psychiatry and literary expert to review, to discuss and to give suggestion to formulate the program. Qualitative (interview), quantitative (survey) and mixed method research was used to obtain an extensive perspective of the intervention program. Empirical findings, theoretical models, and existing facts (testing the effectiveness of the program by implementation to the student participants) were combined to develop this pioneering intervention program. A structured intervention program to reduce the level of depression was developed, consisted of eight modules that are explained in detail. Implementation took place and the evaluation was being carried out. The “Taking in the Good based-Bibliotherapy Intervention” program proved to be effective in reducing depression in female adolescents.

Keywords

Female Adolescent, Depression, Positive-Neuroplasticity, Taking in the Good, Bibliotherapy, Inner Strengths.

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