DEPRESSION
Not your normal “ups and downs” of
life
Famous people living with
depression
• Buzz Aldrin
• Jim Carey
• Drew Carey
• Elton John
• Joan Rivers
• Roseanne
• Harrison Ford
So, What is it?
• Medical illness
• More than just the occasional bad mood
• NOT the natural mourning that takes place
after a loss
• Not the ordinary cycle of ups and downs
• Difficult to diagnose or recognize in oneself
and especially in children ( case studies)
Symptoms
• Persistent sad or “empty” mood (14 days or
longer)
• Loss of pleasure in ordinary activities
• Decreased energy, fatigue, being “slowed
down”
• Significant weight loss or gain - loss of
appetite
• Sleep disturbance - insomnia, early-morning
waking or oversleeping
• Thoughts of death or suicide, suicide
attempts (30% of fatal one car accidents are
actually suicides)
• Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
• Irritability
• Excessive crying
• Chronic aches and pains that don’t respond
to treatment
• Inability to concentrate
Depression in Children and
Adolescents
• Symptoms are similar to adults, but often go
unrecognized and untreated
• Signs often appear around ages 14-18 (but
may be earlier)
• Highest age group affected - 25-44
• Girls and women are 2-3 times more likely to
report it than boys and men
• Teenaged girls are believed to have highest
reported incidence of any age group
• Youth depression is often a reaction to loss
or other stressful life events with out the
skills or support to deal with them
• Biochemical imbalance in the brain may
play a factor (many believe this is true for
all major depressions)
• Heredity may also be a factor
Losses
• A close friend or family member dying
• Changing schools
• Loss of ideal body image
• Low self esteem
• Loss of friendship
• Others:
Stressors
• Family and personal conflicts
• Concern over physical appearance
• Grades
• Athletics
• Job
• Others:
Student Assistance Programs
What should I be looking for?
• One of the most overlooked and untreated
disorders of children and adolescence
• Difficult to recognize because it is often
masked by behavior not usually identified
with depression
• Feelings of sadness, helplessness
• Negative feeling of self-worth
• Inattentiveness and listlessness
• Abuse of alcohol and other drugs
• Decreased academic performance or drop in
grades
• Running away
• Accident-proneness
• Academic failure
Other things to look for
• Aggression
• Sexual promiscuity
• Frequent absences from school
• Daydreaming
• Withdrawn or sullen behavior
• Quick reaction with tears to any kind of
pressure
• Inability to maintain energy level or
complete ordinary tasks
• Complaints of tiredness
• Decreased appetite
• Disruptive behavior inside and outside the
classroom
• Low frustration tolerance
• Frequent complaints of physical symptoms
of illness
Teachers Can Make a Difference
The story of Teddy Stoddard and
Mrs. Thompson
Tips for the teacher
• Help the student get appropriate diagnosis
and treatment
• Take seriously any discussions of death,
suicide or any suicide attempts and report
them to the appropriate person ( know
school policy)
• The student is experiencing a decreased
ability to make decisions, and less ability to
take action.
• Offer hope and support, but be careful not
to do absolutely everything for the person,
as it may increase their feelings of
inadequacy. Try to encourage the student
to take walks, outings or other recreational
activities that once gave them pleasure.
• Be gently insistent - the depressed student
needs diversions, but too many demands
can increase feelings of failure
• Offer emotional support; understanding,
patience and encouragement. Engage the
student in conversation and listen carefully.
• Do not accuse the depressed person of
faking illness, laziness, or expect him to
shape up or snap out of it.
• Eventually, with treatment, most depressed
people do get better. Keep reassuring the
student that with time and help he will feel
better.
Helping a depressed person
• We are not therapists - use these tips when
awaiting onset of services or with the advice
of a professional
• When serious depression is suspected, it is
appropriate to seek professional help
without delay!
Possible reactions to depression
in the family
• Child may:
– allow his/her own needs to be ignored
– fear their own negative moods may be the
beginning of depression
– have to make some unfair compromises
– become hostile, angry or withdrawn
– develop behavior problems at home or at school
– become lonely or isolated from others their age
Helping Children cope with
Depression in the Family
• Help child understand the disease
– explain symptoms of the illness and how each
is caused by depression - not the child
– convey that you can’t “catch” depression
– depression can go away for awhile and then
come back
– depression is nobody’s fault and children are
not responsible for the person’s behavior
– it is normal and OK to feel angry or resentful
about the person’s behavior., You can feel
angry and still love someone.
– People with depression sometimes have to take
medicine or go to the hospital to get better
Treatment Options
• Psychotherapy
• Drug therapy -Paxil, Prozac,
Wellbutrin,Valium,Xanax,Zoloft
• Drug and Psychotherapy combined
• Alternative Medicine - (St. John’s Wort)
How can I help myself feel
better?
• Try to focus on the positives about yourself
rather than the negatives
• Accept the fact that others aren’t perfect
• Accept that you aren’t perfect
• Enjoy the present
• Take care of yourself physically
• Do something nice for yourself