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| Is your child depressed? |
Adult depression |
Bullying |
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Is your child depressed?
| | | What are the signs of child and teenage depression? | | | Persistent sadness and hopelessness Withdrawal from friends and from activities once enjoyed Increased irritability or agitation and even aggressive behaviours Missed school or poor school performance Changes in eating and sleeping habits Indecision, lack of concentration, or forgetfulness Poor self-esteem or guilt Frequent physical complaints, such as headaches and stomach aches Lack of enthusiasm, low energy, or low motivation Drug and/or alcohol abuse Thoughts of death or suicide | | Youth under stress who experience a loss or who have attention, learning, or conduct disorders are at a higher risk for depression. Four out of every five runaway youths suffer from depression Clinical depression can contribute to eating disorders.
| | What can parents or caregivers do? | | If parents or another adult in a young person's life suspect a problem with depression, they should: Be aware of the behaviours that concern them and note how long the behaviours have been going on, how often they occur, and how severe they seem; See a mental health professional or the child's doctor for evaluation and diagnosis; Get accurate information from libraries and websites (see below) Early diagnosis and treatment are essential for children and teenagers with depression. If they exhibit symptoms of depression they should be referred to, and further evaluated by, a mental health professional who specializes in treating children and teenagers. The diagnostic evaluation may include psychological testing, laboratory tests, and consultation with specialists such as a child and adolescent psychologists/psychiatrists. A comprehensive treatment plan may include psychotherapy, ongoing evaluations and monitoring, and sometimes medication. Optimally, the treatment plan is developed with the caregiver/family; and, whenever possible, the child or teenager should be involved in the decisions.
| | What can the teenager do? | | Sometimes the multitude of life’s changes that occur during your high school years can trigger serious depression. At this vulnerable time, the smartest thing you can do for yourself is to seek help. If your feelings of constant stress and sadness go on for weeks or months, you may be experiencing more than just difficulty adjusting to life’s changes. Seek assistance from a doctor or mental health professional, the school counselling service, or a student health centre. While in treatment, there are a number of steps you can take to help you cope on your way to recovery.
Carefully plan your day. Make time every day to prioritise your work. Prioritising can give you a sense of control over what you must do and a sense that you can do it. Plan your work and sleep schedules. Too many students defer doing important class work until night time, work through much of the night, and start every day feeling exhausted. Constant fatigue can be a critical trigger for depression. Seven or eight hours of sleep a night is important to your well-being. Participate in an extracurricular activity. Seek support from other people. Sharing your emotions reduces isolation and helps you realize that you are not alone. Try relaxation methods. These include meditation, deep breathing, warm baths, long walks, exercise – whatever you enjoy that lessens your feelings of stress and discomfort. Take time for yourself every day. Make special time for yourself – even if it’s only for 15 minutes a day. Focusing on yourself can be energizing and gives you a feeling of purpose and control over your life.
| Some useful links
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/HealthInformation/depchildmenu.cfm http://www.baltimorepsych.com/Depression_Adults_Children.htm http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/friend.cfm#link1 http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?objectid=3323EE4A-4... | Talk to us about gains in these areas
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| - depression - alcohol & substance abuse - work related problems | | - anxieities, fearful states, obsessions and compulsions | | - adjustment problems in chronic illness, including pain management | | - child & family problems - eating disorders | | - relationship & interpersonal concerns - dementia | | - sexual dysfunction - post traumatic stress disorder, including physical, | | emotional & sexual abuse - intellectual & memory concerns | | - stress management - neuropsychological assessment & rehabilitation |
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