Recognizing and Helping Students with Depression DEPRESSION Ritas

Recognizing and Helping Students with Depression DEPRESSION

Rita’s Story Fourteen-year-old Rita has been on an alarming downward swing throughout her first semester at Brentwood High—a larger school than she's ever attended. She has lost interest in most daily activities, cries often, and has a difficult time concentrating. Although Rita always earned good grades before, her grades have steadily dropped. She has made no friends and tends to spend her extra time at school with a few select teachers. Other students describe Rita as irritable and resistant to their attempts at friendship or conversation. She whines often, is extremely shy, and does not embrace interests common to teenage girls. The few people Rita interacts closely with at school have noted danger signs. Rita has told Mrs. Shannon, her history teacher, that her parents are fighting. She admits she feels isolated and severely anxious about navigating the demands of high school. Rita feels that she has no one at home to turn to; both of her parents work, and she feels lonely at home even with her siblings around; she has even shared with Mrs. Shannon that she thinks of death as a way out of loneliness. http: //www. ascd. org/publications/educational-leadership/oct 10/vol 68/num 02/Responding-to-a-Student's-Depression. aspx

What is Depression? A persistent sad or irritable mood, loss of energy, decreased interest in daily activities or previously enjoyed activities, persistent feelings of worthlessness or guilt, withdrawal, and, possibly, recurrent thoughts of suicide. Beach ball / balloon activity

Difficulties of Diagnosis Difficult to diagnose Can manifest in many different forms Many work hard to cover up depression Confused with “teenagers being teenagers” Often dismissed as laziness, shyness, or insubordination

Telltale Symptoms in Teens Complaints of feeling sick Missing school Lack of sleep Decreased participation in classroom and extracurricular activities Social problems, including isolation, irritability, problems making friends Consistently defiant attitude with authority figures Failing to complete assignments, or doing so poorly Working slowly Being quick to express emotions through crying or anger Frequently making self-deprecating and pessimistic comments An obsession with morbidity Changes in personality and friend groups Sulking Acting out through theft, drug and alcohol abuse, or unsafe sexual activity Sleeping in class

Causes Can be complex, numerous, and many may interact Brain Changes https: //www. youtube. com/watch? t=60&v=6 o. Ksik. Holl. M https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Pz. T_SBl 31 -s Decline in grey matter in the prefrontal cortex Prunes 50% of synaptic connections away Changes are normal but: �Can make teens feel lost, confused and unfamiliar with their own brains �Can put the amygdala on high alert – leading to increased anxiety “Brain under construction” may be why so many mental disorders, including depression develop at this time Lifestyle Changes Bullying UCLA study – 70. 6% have witnessed bullying; 30% bully

How Can We Help? Foster a supportive classroom Regularly screen for depression Implement an anti-bullying program Teach strategies for mindfulness and stress management http: //www. pbs. org/thebuddha/teachers-guide/ Teach goal-setting and self-monitoring Teach problem solving and study strategies

How Can We Help? Work towards building a healthy relationship Give frequent feedback on academic, social, and behavioral performance Develop modifications and accommodations to respond to the student’s fluctuations in mood, ability to concentrate or side effects of medication Give the student opportunities to engage in social interactions Frequently monitor student for suicidal thoughts Establish a touchstone teacher Communicate with the student’s family Brain Games Clip

References http: //www. ascd. org/publications/educational -leadership/oct 10/vol 68/num 02/Respondingto-a-Student's-Depression. aspx http: //www. edudemic. com/classroomstrategies-for-helping-depressed-teenstudents/ http: //www. pbs. org/thebuddha/teachersguide/