DepressionHealth Stats What relationship is there between risk of depression and how connected teens feel to their school?

What could make someone feel very connected to school? What could make someone feel disconnected?

Depression• Is it normal to feel depression?

Loss of a loved one Failing a test Getting injured Losing a job

• Feeling lifts after a few days

• Get on with life

Depression• Feeling sad, hopeless, or lonely

Unable to enjoy activities or things that used to make them happy Eventually, depression causes inability to function in everyday life

School Home Social life Substance abuse Suicide

Learning Log• Groups of 2 or 3

• Write a summary about ways that depression could cause problems for an individual at school, at home, social life, and in the community.

Recognizing Depression• Are teens moody, irritable, or tired?

• What makes these things signs of depression?

• Diagnosis Must exhibit 4 or more signs Interrupt daily life for more than 2 weeks

Depression• Risk Factors

Parent or sibling with mood disorder Major life change Prolonged stressful situation Victim of violent crime Witnessing a violent crime Previous bout of depression Sense of hopelessness

Depression seems to come when we least expect it

Learning Log• Individual

• Come up with 3 things each that make you depressed

• Come up with 3 things each that are good things in your life

• Draw and color 1 of each

Treatments• Medication

Chemicals control how signals are passed Depression does not allow those chemicals to work properly

• New strategies for coping with depression

Coping Strategies• Cultivate supportive relationships

• Focus on positive thinking Vitamin C

• Take care of yourself

• Regular exercise

• Eat healthy

• Know when you need help

• Help others

Depression• YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

• Depression can lead to destructive behavior if you don’t deal with it

• Talk to a TRUSTED person

• See a counselor

• Self-injury is an unhealthy way to cope with emotions, stress, or traumatic events.

Self-Injury

• Cutting is the use of a sharp object to intentionally cut or scratch one’s body deep enough to bleed.

• Burning the skin on purpose with a lighted match or cigarette is another.

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• Suicide is the intentional killing of oneself.

Suicide Prevention

• Mood disorders, such as depression, are a major risk factor for suicide.• A previous suicide attempt or a family history of suicide• Having both a mental disorder and a substance abuse disorder• Feelings of hopelessness or isolation• Lack of access to mental health treatment• Being influenced by the suicide of family members, peers, or celebrities

Risk Factors

People at risk for suicide can reduce their risk by Protective Factors

• seeking treatment for any mental disorders• seeking treatment for alcohol or drug abuse• establishing a connection with school• developing closer relationships with family and friends

Cluster suicides are a series of suicides that occur within a short period of time in the same peer group or community.

Celebrities, Movies, TV shows, Literature

Cluster Suicides

• It would be very helpful if someone who was aboutto attempt suicide showed unmistakable warning signs.

Warning Signs

• Unfortunately, most suicides occur without warning.

• An important thing to remember is that suicidal behavior is a cry for help in dealing with problems that seem overwhelming.

Helping Others

• Suicidal people often feel that they have looked to others for support and have received no response.

• It is important that you show care and concern for the person.

• If you have been feeling depressed, remember that no matter how overwhelming the problems in your life may seem, suicide is never a solution. It is vital that you talk about your feelings with a trusted adult or mental health professional.

Helping Yourself

• Consider talking with a family member who lives nearby, an adult friend of the family, or an adult in your faith community.

• Crisis centers and suicide-prevention hotlines are other resources you can use.

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Vocabularyclinical depression The symptoms of this disorder are feeling sad and hopeless for

months, being unable to enjoy activities that were once a source of pleasure, and sometimes being unable to accomplish daily tasks.

cutting The use of a sharp object to intentionally cut orscratch one’s body deep enough to bleed.

suicide The intentional killing of oneself.

cluster suicides A series of suicides that occur within a short period of time in the same peer group orcommunity.