Day 6: VBS skit on depression and a message from Tristan de Fontenay

During today's vacation Bible school, Deacon Connie and Ms. Moses presented a skit to the children on depression written by Trinity youth member Tristan de Fontenay. Below are excerpts from the booklet and a note from Tristan explaining the project.

From Tristan:

Traditionally, youth group mission trips are built around activities that enrich the community visited with resources as well as spiritual enrichment. While I may not be able to physically attend the mission trip, I have offered to develop a resource in answer to a need identified during a similar mission trip to the country of Panama. On the previous trip, discussion with a local health provider in a country clinic revealed that while physical conditions are given priority by donor organizations, mental health needs, primarily depression, require identification and treatment. In many communities in the United States, there is a similar concern about under-identification of depression. One way of addressing this has been the development of depression screening activities in the community. This national campaign has been successful in increasing provision of care for psychiatric needs in underdeveloped communities. Therefore, I have been granted the latitude to develop a depression information booklet to be sent with the Trinity youth group on its mission trip to Honduras. I shall be supervised by a board-certified general and child psychiatrist who is a clinical instructor at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Ultimately, I presented my materials to Ms. Ferina Moses and the Trinity Church youth group, who, true to form, have encouraged me in this intellectual and spiritual pursuit.