Implementing Staff Education and Depression Screening Using the PHQ-2 in a Community-Based Organization Serving Adolescents

Yurico Maldonado

Background: Latino adolescents experience disproportionately high rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide risk, yet remain significantly undertreated compared to non‑Latino White peers due to stigma, limited mental health literacy, structural barriers, and cultural factors. Community‑based strategies that address screening gaps and promote culturally responsive mental health education are essential to reducing disparities. Purpose: This Doctor of Nursing Practice project aimed to implement depression screening using the Patient Health Questionnaire‑2 (PHQ‑2) and deliver culturally tailored educational sessions to adolescents and families served by a community‑based organization supporting Latino communities. The goals were to increase staff knowledge, identify at‑risk adolescents, and improve mental‑health awareness among families. Methods: The project incorporated staff training on PHQ‑2 administration, adolescent screening, and three- monthly family‑centered educational sessions addressing mental‑health disorders, symptom recognition, and coping strategies. Pre‑ and post‑intervention staff surveys (n = 14) were implemented to assess changes in knowledge and confidence. The community-based organization distributed 200 PHQ-2 screeners, of which 38 (19%) were returned by adolescents and are included in the present analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize sample characteristics. Pearson correlations and Chi-square tests were used to examine associations. Pre- and post-intervention changes were evaluated using McNemar’s test for categorical outcomes and paired t‑tests for continuous outcomes Findings: Staff demonstrated substantial gains in knowledge. Correct identification of the PHQ‑2 positive cut‑point (≥2) increased from 14.3% to 100% after training (p = 0.00049). Confidence in supporting a Latino adolescent with depressive symptoms rose from 0% to 57.1% (p=?). Among the 38 adolescents screened (mean age = 13.9 years; 68.4% female), PHQ‑2 total scores ranged from 0–6 (mean ±SD= 1.2±1.7). Of these, 26.3% screened positive (≥2), indicating elevated depressive symptoms and the need for further evaluation and referral. These results demonstrate the feasibility and usefulness of implementing PHQ‑2 screening within a community-based setting serving Latino youth. Discussion: This project highlights the critical role of culturally responsive screening and education in improving mental ‑health equity among Latino adolescents. Staff training successfully increased screening knowledge and readiness to support youth, while PHQ‑2 implementation identified a meaningful proportion of adolescents at risk of depression. Educational sessions increased awareness and reduced stigma within families. Collectively, these efforts illustrate how community organizations can serve as accessible, trusted partners in early identification, mental ‑health literacy, and linkage to care for underserved youth.

Implementing Staff Education and Depression Screening Using the PHQ-2 in a Community-Based Organization Serving Adolescents

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