1. A Family’s Journey through Depression Thoughts by Kristi Barth for Teens Finding Hope

2. Topics for today What’s your calling?
Have you been impacted by someone with a mental illness?
What it’s like to live with mental illness Depression/Mania—our family story
Putting on the mask & the stigma that goes with mental illness
Statistics, Identifiers and Warning Signs Resources
Looking beyond the illness to the person
Is life worth living? Yes, Yes, Yes
What’s your calling?

3. Teens Finding Hope Survey
Answers are Anonymous
Check any of the following which have affected
You or someone close to you:
Depression
Suicidal thoughts/ attempts
Bipolar disorder
Abuse
Loss of a loved one to suicide
Schizophrenia
Sexual assault survivor
Intense Hopelessness
Eating disorder
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Severe Anxiety/Anxiety Disorder
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Addiction
Personality Disorder
Self Harm

5. Putting on the Mask Masks I put it on every day The mask with a smile.
It says to the world
All is well, I’m good
On the inside I’m cryin
Sometimes I’m a raging lunatic
Wantin to hurt myself
Other times I hurt so bad and want to be invisible
They think they see me
They think they know me
No one can feel my pain
They wouldn’t like the real me that ’s inside
But now the pain is so bad
Even my masks are crackin
What am I going to do?
When it ’s gone, I have nowhere left to hide.

13. 10 Warning Signs That Suggest You or a Friend May Need Help
Feeling hopeless, sad, depressed or worthless
Tired all the time
Stopped taking care of yourself
personal hygiene and appearance
Angry all the time, overreacting to situations
Big changes in eating or sleeping patterns
Too much or too little
Can’t concentrate, struggle making decisions
Anxious with movements and behaviors
Can become very impulsive
Giving away possessions
Withdrawing physically and emotionally
From friends and activities
Chronic pain or physical symptoms with no known cause and medicine does not seem to help.
Thinking and/or talking about death or suicide
Getting help isn’t a sign of weakness, but one of strength and courage.

18. Situation 1
You come into a home or get a call from parents where they are so worried about their 15 year old child. She isn’t eating well and it’s hard to get her out of bed. She has given away some of her possessions to her younger siblings. Mom and Dad notice that she has been very sad for over a month and they are not sure why or what to do? What do you suggest?
Situation 2
Sammy who is 12 has been complaining about being bullied at school. The parents have gone to the school for help, but they aren’t seeing the bullying happening and think Sammy is making up the whole thing to get attention. What is a red flag to you is now Sammy is ditching school and becoming very withdrawn. What could be a plan of action? What resources are available to the family?
Situation 3
You are working with a family that has 4 children. The 16 year old boy has been
called gay, has been seen wearing girl’s clothing and on their computer the parents saw that they were searching sex change operations. The boy has no friends and spends most of the time in their room. He seems a loner, but pretty sad. Parents can’t figure out what is going on and how should they talk to their teen? They can’t understand this confusion and are getting angry at son for making these decisions. What’s your thoughts and do you have any possible resources?
Situation 4
You receive a call from your 14 year old client’s teacher. They were doing a project at school and as they were working another kid pointed out all these scratches and bruises on Sara’s arms. The other student asked what happened and Sara said they had a new kitty and got really quiet. The teacher suspects that Sara is doing some self harm and wants to know what to do? You have noticed that Sara has seemed more moody and withdrawn and as you began thinking about it remembered that she tends to wear long sleeves even in the summer. Is she suicidal? What recommendations do you have?

20. Realize the Four C’s You didn’t cause the brain illness
You can’t cure the brain illness
You can’t control the brain illness
But you can Cope with the brain illness

21.  “A semicolon is used when an author could’ve chosen to end their sentence, but chose not to. The author is you and the sentence is your life.” By encouraging people to share their marks and stories, Project Semicolon seeks to instill hope and open up a dialogue about mental health.” – Davey Hoen
Stigma-is the feeling you get as a member of a group, that people don’t value you.

22. YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES
Depression
Is My Life Worth Living?
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES

23. Visit Teensfindinghope.org for helpful information and resources