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Getting Depression Out of the dark! Understanding Teen Depression Today we are going to learn about an illness that takes more teen lives than any other, yet this illness is also one of the most difficult topics to talk about in our culture.   We are going to begin a conversation about teen depression that may help you identify depression in yourself or others and empower you to take action towards seeking help. Depression is a real illness that is both common and serious, it is not something you can just “snap out of” and it is certainly not your fault. Like any other illness, depression requires professional treatment. And, most importantly, you can get better and go on to live a happy, healthy and productive life.

Learning Goals Depression is a common and serious brain disorder. Depression is treatable. You can make a difference in someone’s life. Good mental Health is for everyone

Teen Depression: Stories of Hope and Healing KEEP IN MIND If anything shared today prompts a feeling that you need to talk to someone, make sure you check in with one of us or your pediatrician. Please feel free to ask questions at any time. We are going to now watch of video of teens sharing their true stories of dealing with depression. Watch Video

Symptoms of Depression Depressed mood, sadness or irritability Loss of interest or pleasure in activities Change in weight or appetite Change in sleep Feeling sped up or slowed down Fatigue or loss of energy Feelings of worthlessness or guilt Trouble concentrating or making decisions Thoughts of death or acts of self-harm We’re now going to take a closer look at what we learned from the video. Depression is a common and serious brain disorder that can happen to anyone. It is not your fault if you have it and you are not alone.    These are symptoms of depression, are there any others you can think of? Depression is more than a feeling of sadness. In order to have the diagnosis of depression you need at least five symptoms present most every day for at least two weeks. However, it is possible to have occasional moments of enjoyment with depression. Raise your hand if you know someone who has 1, 2, 3, …. of these symptoms. Never keep secrets of self-harm or suicide. A person may make a threat in person, in writing, over the phone or Internet. A friend may tell you they don’t want an adult involved. Tell an adult anyway, he/she may be upset at you for a little while, but that is much better than to have a friend potentially hurt themselves or someone else. Depression is treatable and just like any other medical illness. It requires professional help. The first step is to tell a trusted adult who can help you take action towards treatment.

Ways you can support a friend who may be struggling with depression? • Treat them normally • Check-in with them and listen • Invite them to do fun things • Support their treatment • Help them to make healthy choices

Many famous people have struggled with depression including: former President Abraham Lincoln, actress/activist Angelina Jolie, comedian/actor Jim Carrey, Princess Diana, author JK Rowling and musicians Pete Wentz, Demi Lovato and Curt Cobain. Read the names on the slide, emphasize that depression doesn’t have to stop you from doing whatever you want in life.

Helping Yourself or a Friend

So, what if I were to tell you that today could be the beginning of the same type of training - that by understanding depression, you could save a life.

So, we have been talking a lot about the importance of telling someone if you think you have depression. But, how do you do that? Asking for help can be challenging. You might feel nervous because you're unsure of how to start the conversation or because you're afraid of what the other person will think of you. However, asking for help for something like depression is the first step to getting better and, believe it or not, many of us have already had success with similar conversations in the past.

Friends often see changes in friends before parents and other adults do, so it is important to know how to handle a situation with a friend who may be depressed. The best approach is to communicate to your friend the changes you have noticed, that you care for them and ask how you can help them take action towards talking to a trusted adult.

Finally, if when talking to a friend he or she tells you that they are thinking of suicide or hurting themselves, an adult must be notified immediately. A friend may ask you to keep this information a secret, but when it comes to matters of safety, keeping a secret can cost a life.

HELPING YOURSELF OR A FRIEND Mac thinks he is depressed. He has tried to talk about his feelings to a few friends, however, no one seems to know how to handle it or has minimized it as a part of growing up. Mac doesn’t feel comfortable telling his parents, but at this point, he is definitely getting worse. Mac is close with his art teacher, Mr. McGaw.

QUESTIONS: What is the most critical part of Mac’s situation? If you were Mac, how could you use the language from the lecture to help yourself? Other questions or concerns?

Answer: Mac might try to educate his parents by sharing information on the signs of depression through the Erika’s Lighthouse website at www.erikaslighthouse.org or www.yourlifeyourvoice. If that doesn't work, Mac might speak to his art teacher at school. His teacher may be able to help him talk to someone at school or find a counseling center in the community.

Example: “Mr. McGraw, can we talk? I feel so frustrated. I think I am depressed and I have tried to talk about it to friends but no one seems to know how to help me. I know my parents won’t understand and I have been getting worse and worse each day. I’m worried what will happen if I don’t get help soon. Where can I go for help?

One word of caution. It is important to take care of yourself and understand there are limits to the kind of support a friend can provide to a friend with depression. Often, a person can take on too much responsibility for helping a friend and this can begin to cause stress and bring that person down. Remember, a friend’s job is to listen, show compassion and help a friend to find professional help.

Good Mental Health is for Everyone Everyone Deserves Good Mental Health. We now want to ask you to take the Mental Health Questionnaire. This is a tool to help you understand the areas of your mental health that you may want to pay closer attention to. .

Mental Health Checklist Scores 1) T (1) / F (2) 2) T (2) / F (1) 3) T (1) / F (2) 4) T (1) / F (2) 5) T (2) / F (1) 6) T (1) / F (2) 7) T (1) / F (2) 8) T (2) / F (1) 9) T (1) / F (2) 10) T (1) / F (2) 11) T (2) / F (1) 12) T (1) / F (2) Read the scores, walk around to see if people understand how to score their answers.

Mental Health Checklist Choose an activity from this list that you would be interested in trying out in your daily routine. Consider choosing an activity from the same category as your highest score from the Mental Health Questionnaire Ask for students to share what activities they have chosen.

Apps that support staying mentally healthy Stop Breathe Think Booster Buddy Your Life Your Voice

Teens Sharing What the Wished Their Parents Knew Video for parents Erika’s Lighthouse Depression Test

Sources of Strength

Handout book marks

866-TEENLINK Teen Link Ask for any questions Thank the class for their attention