1. Teens and Depression

2. Some Things to Think About
Most teens do not seek help on their own
Depression has increased 200% in this age group since 1960
Surveys indicate 1 in 5 teens have depression
Third most prevalent cause of death in adolescents, second in year olds
Other things may obscure depression e.g. learning difficulties, conduct disorder
Untreated teen depression puts people at risk for other disorders in adult life
Teens may go years before getting help

3. Who’s at Risk?
What would you say?

4. Who is More at Risk? Family history of depression
A learning disability or attentional difficulty
Teen girls
Youth from marginalised cultural/ethnic groups
GLBT youth
Stressful life events
Chronic Illness
Family difficulties, conflict with parents

5. What Does Depression Look Like in Teens?
What do you think you would See?

6. What Does it Look Like? Poor performance in school
Withdrawal from friends and activities
Sadness and hopelessness
Lack of enthusiasm, energy or motivation
Anger and rage
Over-reaction to criticism
Feelings of being unable to satisfy ideals

7. What it Looks Like…cont.
Poor self-esteem or guilt
Indecision, lack of concentration or forgetfulness
Restlessness and agitation
Changes in eating or sleeping patterns
Substance abuse
Problems with authority
Suicidal thoughts or actions

8. How to Tell the Difference?
Because of the difficulty distinguishing between depression and ‘normal’ adolescent behaviour, think about:
Involving parents and/or trusted teachers and the school counsellor
Sudden behaviour change
Duration of symptoms

9. Some Questions to Help Make The Distinction (note: examples of content rather than the way these would be asked!)
What have you been experiencing? e.g. changes in sleep, thought patterns
When did these things start?
Did something happen to make you feel bad?
How long have the symptoms lasted?
How bad are these things (specific e.g. sadness)?
Have you experienced things like this before?
Did you receive treatment?
What treatment was given? (probe for specific)
What other things have you found helpful?
Does you use alcohol? Drugs?
Have other family members had a depressive illness?
If they were treated, which strategies were effective?
What kind of social support do you have in place?
What lifestyle factors (work, diet, exercise, recreation, etc.) may have changed?
Have you had thoughts about death or suicide?

10. How Treatments Compare (why you should be supportive of different options!)
After about a month, medications are ahead. They reduce symptoms more quickly and more reliably than therapy does.
After a couple of months of treatment, antidepressants and psychotherapy are equal in effectiveness.
At 12 weeks, therapy is slightly ahead in effectiveness.
Relapse occurs 50 percent more often among patients receiving medication alone than among those receiving both drugs and therapy.

11. Aboriginal Youth- At Risk for Depression and Suicide
Young women 8x the national average
Young men 5x the national average
25% of Mi’kmaq youth in N.S. report depression
‘Transgenerational grief’
Sense of isolation, marginalisation from ‘mainstream’
Conflict at home, arguments indicate higher risk
Need to recognise:
Problems with ‘medicalisation’ of depression: need to embed cultural practices
Protective nature of cultural continuity and identity
Health Canada: Acting On What We Know: Preventing Youth Suicide in First Nations, 2002

12. GLBT Youth – At Risk for Depression and Suicide
About 25% of gay and lesbian youth have experienced physical violence in their homes due to their orientation
About 50% of runaways/homeless youth self-report as GLBT
About 30% of youth suicides are GLBT
Increased risk for substance abuse

13. Things That Ward off Depression
Tolerance of ambiguity
Critical thinking
Clear (as opposed to general) goals
Being able to distinguish between what you feel about something and how it is
Relationship skills: 1) establishing closeness and 2) setting boundaries
Physical exercise
Increasing pleasant activities
Relaxation skills
Increasing problem-solving skills
Social skills

14. Protective Factors Mentoring relationships
Community connections (increased social capitol)
Involvement in social and volunteer activities
Building connections with the family/a family member and the school
Supporting an ethno-cultural connection

15. What Can You Help Others to Do?
Cultivate curiosity
Reframe youth behaviour
Take symptoms seriously
Advocate for a troubled youth
Find ways to show youth they are valued and included
Encourage others to participate in programmes you develop
Foster youth-adult partnerships

16. Resources www.youthproject.ns.ca