Into the light: Narratives of individuals who divulge depression diagnoses in schools

This research examines the experiences of 3 students who have depression and chose to disclose that information to peers and/or teachers; it also looks at the supports received or barriers faced within their schools. The use of narrative inquiry ascertains the full experiences of the participants and, by keeping their stories intact, who they are as people. As the stories shared began before school disclosure and continue to the present day, the entire context of the experience is examined and not a specific section of time. Each participant's disclosure was different, but they all had positive experiences: One student spoke to friends, another with friends and teachers, and the third with teachers only. Furthermore, 2 of the participants now do advocacy work, encouraging conversation and acceptance. Ultimately, depression is distinctively personal and cannot begin to be understood without first learning about the person and his or her unique circumstances.