Understanding Depression and Suicide

Do Now In your own words describe depression. How would someone look, feel, and act that is depressed? What is the difference between a risk factor and a warning sign?

What is Depression?? Depression: A medical condition that leads to intense feelings of sadness or despair; these feelings don't go away on their own, and are not necessarily related to a particular life event.

What is Depression?? A disorder interferes with daily life & normal functioning – Affects the body, mood, and thoughts causes pain for both the person with the disorder and those who care about him or her. Depression is a common but serious illness, a medical condition that requires diagnosis and treatment Most who experience it need treatment to get better.

What Depression is NOT: It is NOT something to be ashamed of. It is NOT a character flaw or sign of weakness. No one with depression can just “Snap Out of It”.

Who suffers from Depression? Depression can affect anyone but there is a significantly higher rate of depression among women than men. 17 million Americans develop depression each year. 8.6% of adults over 18 have a mental health problem for at least 2 weeks a year. 2% of Children get depressed 6-8% of Teenagers

Cause of Depression:  Imbalance of certain chemicals in the brain  Neurotransmitters: Chemicals in the brain that allow nerve cells to "communicate" with one another  Too few or too many neurotransmitters may be released and cause or contribute to depression.  Triggered by stress, medication, or other medical problems  Certain personality factors or genetic traits

What Causes Depression? -Risk Factors- Family History Major Life Changes/Transitions What are some examples? Alcohol or Drug Use

Symptoms of Depression Must last for more than 2 weeks: Persistent sad, anxious or "empty" feelings Feelings of hopelessness and/or pessimism Irritability, restlessness Loss of interest in activities or hobbies once pleasurable Fatigue and decreased energy

Symptoms of Depression Difficulty concentrating, remembering details and making decisions Insomnia or excessive sleeping Overeating or appetite loss Thoughts of suicide; suicide attempts *Someone who is suicidal is typically depressed; but not all depressed individuals will have suicidal thoughts.

What Depression IS: TREATABLE No matter what the cause of a persons depression, there is treatment and it is widely available!!

Treatment  Approximately 80% of people who receive treatment for Depression improve.  There are three types of treatment: Psychotherapy Medication Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)  a procedure used to treat severe depression. It may be used in people with symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations, or suicidal thoughts or when other treatments such as psychotherapy and antidepressant medicines have not worked

Psychotherapy…what is it? Psychotherapy is a form of “talking therapy” that works by helping a person gain an understanding or insight into their problems and work on solving them. Behavioral psychotherapy is a type of therapy that looks at patterns of behavior that may contribute to depression.

Medication Anti-depressant Medication helps by affecting the brain chemistry. Often take 3-5 weeks to become fully effective, but improvement is often experienced within the first week. They work well and are safe They are Non-habit forming!

Ect…. Electroconvulsive Therapy Faster acting than most medications Is usually done on an Out Patient basis Can be used in combination with medication and therapy Can be done 2-3 x’s/week for 2-3 weeks or can be used as maintenance therapy for those who remain medication resistant which is done 1x/week until tapering off to 1x/month

ECT…How is it done? ECT is a painless procedure A person is put to sleep with general anesthesia Muscle relaxers are used to prevent any injury from the procedure Oxygen is given by mask during ECT The whole treatment takes 5 minutes You are awake, up walking and eating breakfast with one hour. Home within two!

How can I help a friend or relative who is depressed? Offer emotional support, understanding, patience and encouragement. Engage your friend or relative in conversation, and listen carefully. Never belittle feelings your friend or relative expresses, but point out realities and offer hope. Never ignore comments about suicide

How can I help myself if I am depressed? Exercise or engage in some form of physical activity. Reduce or eliminate the use of alcohol or drugs. Don’t expect too much of yourself. Set realistic goals and expectations. Avoid extra stress and big changes. Talk things over with a family member, friend, counselor, etc. Focus on the POSITIVE.

Do Now… Name 3 symptoms of Depression Name 3 treatment methods for Depression To be collected!!!!

Suicidal Behavior A complex behavior caused by a combination of risk factors. The first step of prevention is to identify these risk factors A risk factor is anything that increases the likelihood that someone will harm themselves Suicide is a PERMANENT solution to a TEMPORARY problem. Life will get better and easier with time and treatment.

Risk Factors Teens who have attempted suicide previously, especially if problems and other recurring concerns were not completely resolved. Teens with low self esteem Teens in trouble with the law (“Suicide by cop”) Teens who are suffering from depression

Risk Factors Teens who have been abused, molested, or neglected Teens who abuse drugs and/or alcohol Teens who are perfectionists Teens who are struggling with sexual orientation (gays and lesbians) Teens who are in dysfunctional families Teens who fail in school – potential dropouts

Warning Signs Talking or writing about suicide or death Giving direct verbal cues “I wish I were dead” and “I’m going to end it all” Giving less direct cues “You’d be better off without me” “What’s the point of living?”, “Soon you won’t have to worry about me”

Warning Signs Isolating him or herself from friends and family Expressing a belief that life is meaningless Giving away prized possessions Exhibiting a sudden unexplained improvement in mood after being depressed

Warning Signs Neglecting his or her appearance and hygiene Dropping out of school or social, athletic, and/or community activities Obtaining a weapon (such as a firearm) or another means of hurting him- herself (such as prescription medication)

Facts In most cases people talk about suicide before they do it Most teens attempt it at home Teenagers attempt suicide by overdosing Women threaten it, men carry it out more Often suicide results from some disturbing event People don’t usually leave evidence or suicide notes

Why Suicide Prevention is Important Third leading cause of death for teens Second leading cause of death in colleges For every completion, there are between attempts CDC Youth Risk Survey: 8.5% grades 9-12 reported attempt in past year 25% high school students report suicide ideation Attempt rate increasing for year olds Same risk and protective factors for suicide as other problem behaviors such as drugs, violence, risky sexual activities

Survey- reported that 1 of every 10 American high school students reported making a suicide attempt the year before. Teenage boys are more likely than girls to commit suicide. Look for a change in behavior or performance in school Statistics

The 10 th leading cause of death in the U.S. The cause of approximately 99 deaths of Americans daily. Suicide is the 6 th leading cause of death among 5-14 year olds And the 3 rd leading cause of death Among year olds

Stats cont. Every…. Year - there are approximately 10 youth suicides for every 100,000 youth Day - there are approximately 11 youth suicides 2 Hours and 11 Minutes - a person under the age of 25 completes suicide

Myth or Fact? MYTH: It’s normal for a teenager to be moody. FACT: Depression can affect all people. Any age-race- ethnicity or economic status

Myth or fact?  MYTH: Teens who claim to be depressed are weak and just need to pull themselves together FACT: Depression is not a weakness, but a serious health disorder. Both young people and adults who are depressed need professional treatment. A trained therapist can help in a variety of ways.

MYTH OR FACT? Myth: People who talk about suicide won’t really do it. Fact: Almost everyone who has died by suicide has given some clue or warning. Do not ignore these statements.

Myth or fact?  Myth: Anyone who kills themselves must be crazy Fact: Most suicidal people are not psychotic or insane. They must be upset, grief stricken, depressed or despairing, but extreme distress and emotional pain are not necessarily signs of mental illness

Myth or fact? Myth: If a person is determined to kill themselves, nothing is going to stop them FACT: Even the most severely depressed person has mixed feeling about death, wavering until the very last moment between wanting to live and wanting to die. Most suicidal people do not want death; they want the pain to stop. The impulse to end it all, however overpowering, does not last forever.

MYTH OR FACT Myth: People who commit suicide are people unwilling to seek help Fact: Studies of suicide victims show that more than half had sought medical help within six months before their deaths.

MYTH OR FACT? Myth: Talking about suicide may give someone ideas Fact: You don’t give a suicidal person morbid ideas by talking about suicide. The opposite is true. Bringing up the subject of suicide and discussing it openly is one of the most helpful things you can do. There is no evidence that screening youth for suicide increases suicidal thinking or behavior

Help it is okay to ask for help talk about traumatic events identify trusted adults participate in school & community activities Someone is always there to listen

Where to get Help! In School Student Assistance Counselors Mrs. Kumpf (Room 44A) Mrs. Blake (Library) School Nurses (So. Building near So. Café) Ms. MastersonMs. Dello Russo Mrs. Kivetz Guidance Counselors ANY Teachers TRUSTED Principals ADULT!! Coaches

Where to get Help! Local Help Somerset County (908) Morris County (973) x228 National Suicide Hotlines SUICIDE TALK

Study Guide…. Test Next Class Diversity Harassment Internet Safety Depression Suicide