The Depression Grand Challenge has supported and continues to support the training and growth of undergraduate students, graduate students and postdoctoral researchers.

A key feature of our approach to working with trainees at any stage in their education, is that the trainees are engaged in activity that directly supports the goals and immediate deliverables of the Depression Grand Challenge. The trainee receives direct experience integrated in the operations of the initiative; in other words, the trainees do not work on independent projects.

Examples of how the Depression Grand Challenge has engaged trainees:

• Graduate students support research programs in a variety of ways such as by supporting the set up and operation of an ongoing research project, conducting clinical interviews, managing the care of research participants, and by conducting risk assessments on research participants who endorse severe symptoms or suicidality. The high volume of these types of activities and structured supervision enables graduate students to refine their skills and prepare them for practicing independently.
• Graduate students and postdoctoral scholars serve on the analyses teams, analyzing the massive data collected through personal sensing devices such as mobile phones and watches. Besides working with Depression Grand Challenge faculty, these trainees may work with a sponsor or outside collaborator.
• Graduate students and postdoctoral scholars contribute to the materials in the STAND content library. Many trainees have served on the content team developing new lessons, working in partnership with lay staff to ensure that the content is accurate and accessible for a lay audience. In some cases these trainees have the opportunity to expand their networks by liaising with external experts to create the content.
• Undergraduate students are trained to be certified coaches and support the delivery of the STAND digital mental health program, helping participants review and practice the skills and strategies that they learn in the digital program. Certified coaches report that the training program has been transformational personally in terms of enhancing their resiliency and enhanced their competitiveness for graduate programs. See STAND Coaching.
• Graduate students serve on the training and supervision team for STAND trainees and coaches. For coach training they run a weekly training session with a cohort of coaches and for supervision, they run weekly sessions to foster enhanced coaching skills through specific examples and feedback.