Depression. More women than men commit suicideMore women than men commit suicide Depression in teenagers is a temporary side effect of pubertyDepression

Depression

•More women than men commit suicideMore women than men commit suicide

•Depression in teenagers is a temporary side effect Depression in teenagers is a temporary side effect of pubertyof puberty

•Suicidal tendencies are inherentSuicidal tendencies are inherent

•People who take anti depressants will take them People who take anti depressants will take them for the rest of their livesfor the rest of their lives

•Most children with depression receive the help Most children with depression receive the help they needthey need

Fact or Fiction?Fact or Fiction?

•People with depression are just people who can’t People with depression are just people who can’t cope with everyday stressorscope with everyday stressors

•Depression is recognized by insurance company’s an Depression is recognized by insurance company’s an illnessillness

•Anti depressive medication is addictive Anti depressive medication is addictive

•Depression is not a physiological illness such as heart Depression is not a physiological illness such as heart disease or diabetesdisease or diabetes

Fact or Fiction?Fact or Fiction?

Fiction!

A condition of deep dejection A condition of deep dejection

characterized by a lack of response to characterized by a lack of response to

stimulation and withdrawal. stimulation and withdrawal.

Depression:Depression:

The same as a passing blue The same as a passing blue

mood, it is not a sign of mood, it is not a sign of

personal weakness, or a personal weakness, or a

condition that can be willed or condition that can be willed or

wished away. People with wished away. People with

depression cannot merely depression cannot merely

“pull themselves together” “pull themselves together”

and get better. and get better.

Depression is NOT:Depression is NOT:

An illness that involves the An illness that involves the

body, mood, and thoughts. body, mood, and thoughts.

It affects the way a person It affects the way a person

eats and sleeps, the way eats and sleeps, the way

one feels about oneself, and one feels about oneself, and

the way one thinks about the way one thinks about

things. things.

Depression is:Depression is:

•Interferes with everyday Interferes with everyday

activities, such as work, sleep, activities, such as work, sleep,

eating, etc. eating, etc.

Major Depression:Major Depression:

•A less severe type of A less severe type of depression, Dysthymia’s depression, Dysthymia’s

long - term chronic long - term chronic symptoms keeps one from symptoms keeps one from functioning well, or from functioning well, or from

feeling good.feeling good.

Dysthymia:Dysthymia:

•Also called manic depressive illness or manic Also called manic depressive illness or manic depression, Bipolar Disorder has periods of euphoria depression, Bipolar Disorder has periods of euphoria (mania), and lows (depression). Sometimes the mood (mania), and lows (depression). Sometimes the mood

changes are dramatic and rapid, but generally the changes are dramatic and rapid, but generally the mood changes are gradual. mood changes are gradual.

Bipolar Disorder Bipolar Disorder

What Causes Depression?What Causes Depression?

Causes of DepressionCauses of Depression

• Kinship studies reveal that heredity plays an Kinship studies reveal that heredity plays an

important role important role

• Hormonal changes of puberty trigger depression Hormonal changes of puberty trigger depression

in genetically susceptible young people in genetically susceptible young people


• Environmental factors include: profound loss, Environmental factors include: profound loss,

parental divorce, end of a close friendship or parental divorce, end of a close friendship or

dating relationship, failing at something important, dating relationship, failing at something important,

inability to meet parental expectations, poverty inability to meet parental expectations, poverty

and ethnic minority status. Abuse and stressful and ethnic minority status. Abuse and stressful

home life can also trigger depression.home life can also trigger depression.


• Girls are twice as likely to be depressed than boys. Girls are twice as likely to be depressed than boys.

Gender-typed coping styles are the cause. The Gender-typed coping styles are the cause. The

gender intensification that girls experience in early gender intensification that girls experience in early

adolescence promotes passivity and dependency. adolescence promotes passivity and dependency.

This causes them to internalize their stress and This causes them to internalize their stress and

anxiety, leading to an inability to cope.anxiety, leading to an inability to cope.


• Kids as young as infants exhibit symptoms of Kids as young as infants exhibit symptoms of

depression prior to environmental factors coming depression prior to environmental factors coming

into play. This leads to the belief that depression into play. This leads to the belief that depression

can be wholly chemical.can be wholly chemical.

• Depression is individual and causes will be Depression is individual and causes will be

different for each child.different for each child.


• Depression could be entirely chemical, entirely Depression could be entirely chemical, entirely

environmental, or a combination of the twoenvironmental, or a combination of the two

• More important than causes are identification and More important than causes are identification and

treatmenttreatment

What are the Symptoms What are the Symptoms of Depression?of Depression?

Symptoms to look for in Symptoms to look for in children:children:

• Does the child cry more often than Does the child cry more often than in the past?in the past?

• Does the child complain of feeling Does the child complain of feeling blue or empty inside?blue or empty inside?

• When things do not go the child’s When things do not go the child’s way, does he think his life is way, does he think his life is hopeless?hopeless?

• Does the child have a hard time Does the child have a hard time falling asleep at bedtime, or does falling asleep at bedtime, or does she awaken in the middle of the she awaken in the middle of the night and have trouble going back night and have trouble going back to sleep?to sleep?

• Has the child lost interest in his Has the child lost interest in his favorite activities?favorite activities?

• Does he spend more time alone, Does he spend more time alone, away from friends and family?away from friends and family?

• Has the child gained or lost Has the child gained or lost weight in recent weeks?weight in recent weeks?

• Does she seem more worn out Does she seem more worn out and tired that in the past?and tired that in the past?

• Does he sometimes talk about Does he sometimes talk about hurting himself?hurting himself?

Symptoms to look for in Symptoms to look for in Adolescents and AdultsAdolescents and Adults

• Persistent sad, anxious or “empty” Persistent sad, anxious or “empty” moodmood

• Feelings of hopeless, pessimismFeelings of hopeless, pessimism• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, Feelings of guilt, worthlessness,

helplessnesshelplessness• Loss of interest or pleasure in Loss of interest or pleasure in

hobbies and activities that you once hobbies and activities that you once enjoyedenjoyed

• Decreased energy, fatigue, being Decreased energy, fatigue, being slowed downslowed down

• Difficulty concentrating, Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisionsremembering, making decisions

• Insomnia, early-morning Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping.awakening, or oversleeping.

• Appetite and/or weight loss or Appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain.overeating and weight gain.

• ..• Restlessness, irritability.Restlessness, irritability.• Persistent physical symptoms that Persistent physical symptoms that

do not respond to treatment, such do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic painand chronic pain

• Thoughts of death or suicide, suicide Thoughts of death or suicide, suicide attemptsattempts. .

Suicide

Suicide StatisticsSuicide Statistics

• Suicide is the 11Suicide is the 11thth leading cause of death in the United leading cause of death in the United States.States.

• Suicide is the third leading cause of death among people Suicide is the third leading cause of death among people age 10 – 24.age 10 – 24.

• Teen/youth suicides have tripled since 1970.Teen/youth suicides have tripled since 1970.• More women in the US attempt suicide than men by a ratio More women in the US attempt suicide than men by a ratio

of 3 to 1.of 3 to 1.• Men succeed at commit suicide more often than women by Men succeed at commit suicide more often than women by

a ratio of 4 to 1.a ratio of 4 to 1.• For every two homicides in the US, there are three suicides.For every two homicides in the US, there are three suicides.

Warning SignsWarning Signs• Severe, amplified depression symptomsSevere, amplified depression symptoms• Previous suicide attemptsPrevious suicide attempts• Verbalizing suicide threatsVerbalizing suicide threats• Efforts to put personal affairs in order Efforts to put personal affairs in order

(smoothing over troubled relationships, etc)(smoothing over troubled relationships, etc)• The collection and discussion of The collection and discussion of

information on suicides methodsinformation on suicides methods• The scratching or marking of the body or The scratching or marking of the body or

other self-destructive actsother self-destructive acts• Statements or suggestions that the speaker Statements or suggestions that the speaker

would not be missed if he/ she were gonewould not be missed if he/ she were gone

Warning SignsWarning Signs• Acute personality changes, unusual Acute personality changes, unusual

withdrawal, aggressiveness or moodiness, or withdrawal, aggressiveness or moodiness, or new involvement in high risk activities.new involvement in high risk activities.

• Decline in grades, absence from school, Decline in grades, absence from school, discipline problems.discipline problems.

• Change in appetite and/or sleep patterns.Change in appetite and/or sleep patterns.• Physical complaints, such as headaches, Physical complaints, such as headaches,

stomachaches, neglect of physical stomachaches, neglect of physical appearance.appearance.

• Overall, look for sudden changes in behavior Overall, look for sudden changes in behavior that are significant, last for a long time and that are significant, last for a long time and are apparent in his or her life. (Pervasive). are apparent in his or her life. (Pervasive).

StrategiesStrategies• Be psychologically availableBe psychologically available• Communicate a caring, capable Communicate a caring, capable

attitudeattitude• Assess the immediacy of the riskAssess the immediacy of the risk• Empathize with the young person’s Empathize with the young person’s

feelingsfeelings• Oppose the suicidal intentOppose the suicidal intent• Offer a plan for helpOffer a plan for help• Obtain a commitmentObtain a commitment

TreatmentTreatment

Intervention with Intervention with

depressed and suicidal depressed and suicidal

adolescents ranges from adolescents ranges from

antidepressant medication antidepressant medication

to individual, family, and to individual, family, and

group therapy.group therapy.

TreatmentsTreatments

MedicationsMedications

There is a wide variety of There is a wide variety of

medications that can be medications that can be

taken for depression, with taken for depression, with

varied effectiveness and side varied effectiveness and side

effectseffects

TherapyTherapy

• Depression is not fully recognized as an Depression is not fully recognized as an

illness by most health care insurance illness by most health care insurance

providers, so coverage may be limited.providers, so coverage may be limited.

Closing/AssessmentClosing/Assessment

• You are a teacher in a middle school. Ellory, a You are a teacher in a middle school. Ellory, a

14-year-old girl, is usually a bright, happy, normal 14-year-old girl, is usually a bright, happy, normal

teenager. She usually participates in class and teenager. She usually participates in class and

interacts well with other students. interacts well with other students.

• For the past few weeks you have noticed some For the past few weeks you have noticed some changes in Ellory’s behavior. She has been changes in Ellory’s behavior. She has been exhibiting the following behaviors:exhibiting the following behaviors:o She has been withdrawn from her friendsShe has been withdrawn from her friendso She doesn’t express the same interest in art She doesn’t express the same interest in art

assignments as before, and seems distracted assignments as before, and seems distracted from the activities.from the activities.

o She has been throwing away most of her lunchShe has been throwing away most of her luncho She seems tired at times, fidgety at others.She seems tired at times, fidgety at others.o You notice some strange marks on her body, You notice some strange marks on her body,

specifically scratch-type marks on her wristsspecifically scratch-type marks on her wrists . .

What do you think is wrong with What do you think is wrong with Ellory’s behavior? How should you Ellory’s behavior? How should you

address the situation?address the situation?

The Storm in My Brain

Documents

Depression. More women than men commit suicideMore women than men commit suicide Depression in teenagers is a temporary side effect of pubertyDepression