Knowledge about anxiety and depression among high school students at the TAEPO boarding school in Khochis, Sucre

Abstract

According to the WHO, one in seven young
people suffers from some type of mental disorder. The main causes include depression
and anxiety. The objective of this study was
to determine the knowledge about anxiety and
depression among secondary school students
at the Taller Artesanal de Educación Popular
boarding school in the Kochis community,
Sucre, between July and September 2025. A
quantitative approach was adopted, using methods and techniques to measure and analyze
the phenomena. The study was observational,
descriptive, and cross-sectional, and the population consisted of 110 students.
Forty-two percent of students recognized
anxiety as normal, while 41% did not know
how to define it. The most frequent symptoms were nervousness and excessive worry
(46%), and the main complications were sadness and social isolation (58%). Regarding
depression, 45% considered it a mood disorder and 30% could not conceptualize it; 55%
did not know how to act. In terms of support,
41% turn to friends, and only 3% would seek a
psychologist or doctor. Among the barriers to
seeking help, 14% reported shame or fear of
being judged, and 11% indicated not knowing
whom to turn to or lack of access. These results show significant difficulties in accessing
appropriate support and highlight that mental
health policies are still insufficient, emphasizing that peers are the main support network
and that health professionals are not always
the first choice when facing episodes of anxiety or depression