A psychiatric nurse is planning activities aimed at secondary prevention of mental illness. Which activity would be most appropriate to develop?

In the public health model of psychiatric nursing, secondary prevention focuses on early identification and prompt intervention. The goal is to shorten the duration of the illness or minimize its severity by catching symptoms as soon as they appear. This differs from primary prevention (prevention before it starts) and tertiary prevention (rehab for chronic issues). Rationale: A. Social skills training for those with chronic schizophrenia is an example of tertiary prevention. At this stage, the disease is already established, and the goal of the nurse is to provide rehabilitation, reduce disability, and help the client achieve their highest possible level of functioning. B. Building self-esteem in an after-school program is primary prevention. The goal here is to bolster resilience and insulate a healthy population against the future development of mental health disorders. It is a proactive, educational approach for people who are currently asymptomatic. C. Depression screening is the hallmark of secondary prevention. Screening programs, whether for depression in the elderly, developmental delays in toddlers, or PTSD in veterans, are designed for early case-finding. By identifying depression in an assisted living facility early, the nurse can initiate treatment before the condition leads to more severe complications like malnutrition, isolation, or suicide. D. Parenthood classes are another example of primary prevention. These classes aim to reduce the stress of a major life transition and provide parents with tools to foster healthy environments for their children, thereby preventing potential mental health issues from arising in the first place.