DEPRESSIONDEPRESSION

What Is Depression?What Is Depression?

A disorder that A disorder that affects a person’s affects a person’s

mood where mood where feeling range feeling range

from the blues to from the blues to extreme sadness extreme sadness

and hopelessness.and hopelessness.

It can be a It can be a crippling disease crippling disease and may lead to and may lead to

suicide.suicide.

What Causes Depression?What Causes Depression?

Physical: Chemical Physical: Chemical imbalance within the imbalance within the brain.brain.

Psychological: A Psychological: A mental disorder mental disorder most often related most often related to stress.to stress.

Other Factors: Other Factors: Family history, Major Family history, Major life stresses, life stresses, Physical illness, Physical illness, Drug abuse, Gender.Drug abuse, Gender.

What are the Signs of What are the Signs of Depression?Depression?

SadnessSadness HopelessnessHopelessness Change in Eating HabitsChange in Eating Habits Change in Sleep HabitsChange in Sleep Habits Loss of Self-EsteemLoss of Self-Esteem Withdraw from LifeWithdraw from Life Extreme and Sudden Extreme and Sudden

Mood ChangesMood Changes

How To Help Someone How To Help Someone With Depression?With Depression?

Talk to them- Don’t dwell on Talk to them- Don’t dwell on the negative or challenging the negative or challenging aspects & focus on the positive aspects & focus on the positive things in their life.things in their life.

Listen- Get them to talk.Listen- Get them to talk. Show understandingShow understanding Get them to suggest Get them to suggest

alternatives -Put things into alternatives -Put things into perspective.perspective.

Encourage Exercise.Encourage Exercise. Don’t tell them “THINGS ARE Don’t tell them “THINGS ARE

NOT THAT BAD.”NOT THAT BAD.” If it lasts longer than 2 weeks, If it lasts longer than 2 weeks,

seek help, hotlines, counselors, seek help, hotlines, counselors, & trusted adults.& trusted adults.

What are the Signs of What are the Signs of Suicidal Risk?Suicidal Risk?

Grades ChangingGrades Changing Giving Things AwayGiving Things Away Moody - QuietMoody - Quiet Self Destructive BehaviorSelf Destructive Behavior Talk About ItTalk About It Have a WillHave a Will Change in Eating HabitsChange in Eating Habits Change in Sleep HabitsChange in Sleep Habits

What You Can Do To Help!What You Can Do To Help!1.Determine the Danger.1.Determine the Danger.

ASK who, what, where, ASK who, what, where, when, why, & howwhen, why, & how

2.Deal with the actual plan.2.Deal with the actual plan.Remove the potential Remove the potential

for suicide.for suicide.

OrOrRemove the means.Remove the means.

OrOrDetermine the method.Determine the method.

3. Get professional HELP.3. Get professional HELP.Tell someone - Tell someone -

teachers, counselors, teachers, counselors, parents, or suicidal parents, or suicidal hotlines.hotlines.

4.Take RESPONSIBILITY 4.Take RESPONSIBILITY for saving your friend’s for saving your friend’s life.life.

5. Write a contract for life.5. Write a contract for life.

Helping Con’t

SUICIDE IS A SUICIDE IS A PERMANENT SOLUTION PERMANENT SOLUTION

TO A TEMPORARY TO A TEMPORARY PROBLEMPROBLEM