Author: Aghunney

Mental Health Update

In this Issue:
Depression in Children and Adolescents:
The Basics
Treating Depression
Working With Students With Depression

References:
National Institute of Mental Health
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression/summary.shtml
Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/mhprograms/42D.pdf
Center for School Mental Health
http://www.schoolmentalhealth.org/Resources/Educ/DepYouthEd.pdf
National Association of School Psychologists
http://www.naspcenter.org/resources/handouts/social%20template.pdf

Depression in Children and Adolescents

The Basics

It is not unusual for people, including children and adolescents, to feel blue or sad at times. However, experiencing these feelings with great intensity for weeks or months may be a symptom of depression. A depressive disorder involves more than feeling sad; it is an illness that can affect a person’s thoughts, feelings, behavior and body. Depression is one of the most common mental health problems in young people.
What Contributes to Depression?
Current evidence suggests that depression is associated changes in brain structures or brain functions. It is inaccurate, however to are that changes in the brain are the only cause of depression. Several factors can contribute to a person demonstrating depressive symptoms. One such factor is family history. Genetics can play a role in depression, that is, depressed youth are more likely to have family members who suffer from depression. Trauma and stress such as the death of a loved one, abuse and natural disasters also put children and adolescents at risk of developing depression. Youth with low self-esteem and a negative outlook are also more likely than their peers to experience depression. Serious medical conditions such as cancer can also lead to depression, partly due to the stress they can cause. Some medications used for treatment of medical illness can lead to depression. It is not uncommon for depression to be associated with other psychological disorders including anxiety, eating disorders and especially substance abuse.
Types of Depression
The three most common forms of depression are Major Depression, Dysthymia, and Bipolar Disorder.
Major depression involves a combination of symptoms which interfere with a person’s ability to work, sleep, eat, study and enjoy activities which were once pleasurable. This form of depression can be disabling and keep people from leading normal lives. Episodes of this form of depression tend to occur several times over a person’s lifetime.
Dysthymia is a less severe form of depression. It involves long-term, chronic symptoms which are not disabling, but keep a person from functioning well. People with dysthymia may experience major depressive episodes at times in their lives.
Bipolar disorder (formerly called manic-depressive disorder) is less common than the other forms of depression. The disorder is characterized by cycling mood changes: mania (extreme highs) and depression. Mood changes can be sudden and dramatic or gradual.
What Are the Symptoms?
Students with depression may exhibit any of the following symptoms
Persistent sad or anxious mood
Feelings of hopeless, pessimism, worthlessness, helplessness, guilt, etc
Irritability
Diminished interest in daily activities or pleasure in activities that were once enjoyed
Social withdrawal
Physical complaints that do not respond to treatment such as headaches and chronic pain
Decreased energy and chronic boredom
Difficulty concentrating, remembering
Significant change in appetite and/or weight
Declining school performance
Thoughts of death or suicide

Why Do We Care?
Depression can affect children and adolescents at home as well as in school. When compared to their peers, students with depression:
Are less likely to participate in school activities
Are more likely to disrupt classroom activities
Are more likely to commit suicide
Are more likely to skip class and miss time away from school
Are more likely to engage in risky behavior such as substance abuse

What Can Schools Do?
School can serve as an optimum environment to facilitate the prevention,
identification and treatment of depression. Some effective steps schools can take to do this include:
Develop a supportive, caring and welcoming school environment for the whole school community, including students, families and school staff.
Have clear and vigorously enforced prevention plans surrounding school violence, bullying and suicide.
Ensure that each student has at least one adult in school who takes special interest in him or her.
Be prepared to provide support to students after traumatic events such as after the incidence of natural disasters and school violence.
Actively observe student behavior in and around the classroom and inform caregivers and school mental health staff of any concerns.
Create a feedback loop with caregivers and school mental health staff to reassess student symptoms.
Train school staff and caregivers to recognize risk factor and symptoms of depression in children and adolescents.
Teach school staff for to respond to “cried for help” from students with depression.
Utilize the expertise of school mental health staff (including the school psychologist, social worker and counselor) in planning intervention and prevention and in facilitating training.

Quote of the Month
Just as despair can come to one only from other human beings, hope, too, can be given to one only by other human beings. - Elie Weisel

This story can fit 150-200 words.
One benefit of using your newsletter as a promotional tool is that you can reuse content from other marketing materials, such as press releases, market studies, and reports.
While your main goal of distributing a newsletter might be to sell your product or service, the key to a successful newsletter is making it useful to your readers.
A great way to add useful content to your newsletter is to develop and write your own articles, or include a calendar of upcoming events or a special offer that promotes a new product.
You can also research articles or find “filler” articles by accessing the World Wide Web. You can write about a variety of topics but try to keep your articles short.
Much of the content you put in your newsletter can also be used for your Web site. Microsoft Publisher offers a simple way to convert your newsletter to a Web publication. So, when you’re finished writing your newsletter, convert it to a Web site and post it.

This story can fit 75-125 words.
Selecting pictures or graphics is an important part of adding content to your newsletter.
Think about your article and ask yourself if the picture supports or enhances the message you’re trying to convey. Avoid selecting images that appear to be out of context.
Microsoft Publisher includes thousands of clip art images from which you can choose and import into your newsletter. There are also several tools you can use to draw shapes and symbols.
Once you have chosen an image, place it close to the article. Be sure to place the caption of the image near the image.

This story can fit 100-150 words.
The subject matter that appears in newsletters is virtually endless. You can include stories that focus on current technologies or innovations in your field.
You may also want to note business or economic trends, or make predictions for your customers or clients.
If the newsletter is distributed internally, you might comment upon new procedures or improvements to the business. Sales figures or earnings will show how your business is growing.
Some newsletters include a column that is updated every issue, for instance, an advice column, a book review, a letter from the president, or an editorial. You can also profile new employees or top customers or vendors.

Depression

Volume 2, Issue 3

This story can fit 150-200 words.
One benefit of using your newsletter as a promotional tool is that you can reuse content from other marketing materials, such as press releases, market studies, and reports.
While your main goal of distributing a newsletter might be to sell your product or service, the key to a successful newsletter is making it useful to your readers.
A great way to add useful content to your newsletter is to develop and write your own articles, or include a calendar of upcoming events or a special offer that promotes a new product.
You can also research articles or find “filler” articles by accessing the World Wide Web. You can write about a variety of topics but try to keep your articles short.
Much of the content you put in your newsletter can also be used for your Web site. Microsoft Publisher offers a simple way to convert your newsletter to a Web publication. So, when you’re finished writing your newsletter, convert it to a Web site and post it.

This story can fit 75-125 words.
Selecting pictures or graphics is an important part of adding content to your newsletter.
Think about your article and ask yourself if the picture supports or enhances the message you’re trying to convey. Avoid selecting images that appear to be out of context.
Microsoft Publisher includes thousands of clip art images from which you can choose and import into your newsletter. There are also several tools you can use to draw shapes and symbols.
Once you have chosen an image, place it close to the article. Be sure to place the caption of the image near the image.

This story can fit 100-150 words.
The subject matter that appears in newsletters is virtually endless. You can include stories that focus on current technologies or innovations in your field.
You may also want to note business or economic trends, or make predictions for your customers or clients.
If the newsletter is distributed internally, you might comment upon new procedures or improvements to the business. Sales figures or earnings will show how your business is growing.
Some newsletters include a column that is updated every issue, for instance, an advice column, a book review, a letter from the president, or an editorial. You can also profile new employees or top customers or vendors.