Lesson 3 Skills for Healthy Living Providing Social Support 3 Skills for Healthy Living Providing Social Support L E S S O N

Journal Question Have you ever worried that a friend or family member was depressed? How did you handle the situation? If you haven’t been in the situation, how might you imagine you would respond?

Warning Signs of Depression in Teens Irritability or anger Extreme sensitivity to criticism Withdrawing from parents or some friends Change in appetite, significant weight loss or weight gain Change in sleep patterns (difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much, especially during the daytime) (continued)

Warning Signs of Depression in Teens (continued) Changes in activity patterns (becoming sluggish or frantic) Loss of energy Feelings of worthlessness or guilt Difficulty thinking or concentrating Loss of interest in usual activities Repeated thoughts or statements about death or suicide

Warning Signs of Suicide A history of depression or the existence of the signs of depression (see previous list) Expressions of self-hatred Excessive risk-taking behaviors along with a careless attitude (“It doesn’t matter what happens to me anyway”) A direct statement about committing suicide (“I’m going to end it all”) (continued)

Warning Signs of Suicide (continued) An indirect statement about committing suicide (“You won’t have to worry about me being here by then”) Final preparations such as giving away possessions, writing revealing letters, or repairing damaged relationships before planning to say good-bye A preoccupation with themes of death Significant changes in personal appearance

How to Help Tell a trusted adult about your concerns. Do not keep your concerns or your knowledge a secret, even if the other person is asking you to. Take threats seriously. If someone you know displays warning signs, don’t excuse them or brush them off. Listen and care. If a person confides suicidal intentions to you, listen for the reasons why they feel the way they do. Understanding where the person is coming from can help you convey the situation more effectively to others and may ultimately help them get the support they need. (continued)

How to Help (continued) Don’t belittle or challenge. If you dismiss a person’s threats about suicide, he or she may take that dismissal as a challenge. Monitor the warning signs. If the person seems to be getting worse, let others such as that person’s parents, siblings, spouse, or counselor know. If you have serious concerns about a friend and don’t know where to turn, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at TALK(8255).