Depression and Suicide

1
Depression and Suicide

• Angela Borasky
• Miwa Nguyen
• Anita Pittman

2
What is Depression?

• A disease affecting the entire mind and body,
  causing a person to feel miserable in many ways.
  
• Changes in brain chemistry make it happen.
• Causes unknown
• Can strike normal and healthy people.
• Often confused with other illnesses.
• Treatable with medications and therapies.

3
Triggers of Depression in Teenagers

• Personal experiences
• Earlier traumatic experiences
• Stress
• Hormonal changes
• Medical conditions
• Allergies
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Biology

4
Effects of Depression in Teenagers

• Drug and alcohol use
• Low self-esteem
• Eating disorders
• Self injury
• Acting out
• Suicidal thoughts or attempts

5
Prevalence of Depression

• As many as 8 of adolescents
• 1-3 of children
• 5 of all children ages 9-17 have been diagnosed
  with major depression

6
Relapse of Depression

• 20-40 of depressed children relapse within 2
  years
  
• 70 of depressed children relapse by adulthood

7
Mood Disorders

• Major Depressive Disorder
• Dysthymic Disorder
• Bipolar Disorder
• Cyclothymic Disorder

8
Major Depressive Disorder

• Primary hallmark of this disorder is a depressed
  mood present for most of the time, nearly every
  day for at least two weeks.
  
• Depression in adolescence is associated with
  future problems with depression.

9
Dysthymic Disorder

• Evidenced by depressed or irritable mood for at
  least one year. This is normally milder than
  major depressive disorder but can lead to major
  depressive disorder and can cause impairment in
  functioning and development.

10
Co-Morbidity

• Depression is highly associated with
• Eating Disorders
• Anxiety Disorders
• Personality Disturbances
• Substance Abuse
• Suicidal Ideology

11
IMPLICATIONS FOR LEARNING

• DIFFICULTY WITH
• CONCENTRATION
• ORGANIZATION
• FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS
• REMEMBERING ASSIGNMENTS
• EXTREME SENSITIVITY TO CORRECTION, FAILURE, OR
  REJECTION
  
• LACK OF ALERTNESS-DUE TO SLEEP DISRUPTIONS

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IMPLICATIONS FOR LEARNING

• GETTING TO SCHOOL ON TIME OR GETTING TO SCHOOL AT
  ALL
  
• FITTING IN SOCIALLY OR ACADEMICALLY
• SUBSTANCE ABUSE
• DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR
• VIOLENCE AND AGGRESSION
• LEGAL TROUBLES
• SUICIDE

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CONSEQUENCES

• SCHOOL PERFORMANCE AND LEARNING (Grades,
  Attendance)
  
• SOCIAL INTERACTIONS AND DEVELOPMENT OF NORMAL
  PEER RELATIONSHIPS
  
• SELF-ESTEEM AND LIFE SKILL ACQUISITION
• PARENT-CHILD RELATIONS AND CHILDS SENSE OF
  BONDING AND TRUST

14
WHAT CAN BE DONE?

• COUNSELORS AND SCHOOL
• DEVELOP A CARING, SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT
• DEVELOP SCHOOL WIDE PROGRAM TO EDUCATE TEACHERS,
  STUDENTS, AND PARENTS
  
• MAKE SURE THERE IS AN INTERVENTION PROTOCOL FOR
  TEACHERS AND STUDENTS TO FOLLOW
  
• COLLABORATE WITH MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
• PROVIDE DIRECT SERVICES TO STUDENTS

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DIRECT SERVICES

• INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING
• GROUP COUNSELING
• MENTORING PROGRAMS

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COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL CURRICULUM

• IMPROVE SOCIAL SKILLS
• INCREASE PLEASANT ACTIVITIES
• RELAXATION TRAINING
• INCREASE POSITIVE THOUGHTS AND DECREASE NEGATIVE
  THOUGHTS
  
• COMMUNICATION TRAINING
• PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS
• MAINTAINING GAINS

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TEACHER

• Accommodations
• ATTITUDE
• CLASSROOM STRESS
• BE FLEXIBLE
• EXPECT DISORGANIZATION AND FORGETFULNESS
• GIVE THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT
• FIND AND PRAISE THE GOOD
• MAKE USE OF FORMAL ACCOMMODATIONS
• BE COMPASSIONATE

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Suggestions for Parents of Depressed Children

• Do not minimize the seriousness.
• Arrange one interesting activity a day.
• Be aware of warning signs of suicide.
• Seek counseling.
• Consult your family doctor for a complete medical
  exam.
  

19
Adolescent Suicide

• Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death in
  adolescents. Only car accidents and homicide
  cause more deaths.
  
• 22 of depressed children will attempt suicide
• About 3-4 of adolescents will have considered
  suicide in the past two weeks

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Risk Factors for Suicide in Teenagers

• Previous suicidal behavior
• History of psychiatric disorder or substance
  abuse
  
• Family history of suicide, psychiatric disorder
  or substance abuse
  
• Loss of parent through any means
• History of abuse, violence or neglect
• Social isolation/alienation, including because of
  being gay or being bullied
  

21
Suicide Rates

• 1-2 out of every 100,000 children under the age
  of 15 will commit suicide
  
• About 11 out of 100,000 children in the 15-19
  age group will commit suicide
  
• 20 of male suicides and 14 of female suicides
  are in the 15-24 year old age group
  

22
15-19 Year Olds

• 86 of teenage suicides occur in this age group
• Boys actually kill themselves five times more
  often than girls
  
• Girls attempt suicide twice as often as boys

23
Suicide Rates By Nationality

• Deaths per 100,000resident population ages
  15-24
  
• Black/African American- 13.0
• American Indian/Alaskan Native- 35.3
• Asian/Pacific Islander- 8.7
• Hispanic- 12.7
• White- 12.4

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References

• Cash, R.E. (2003). When depression brings teens
  down. The Education Digest, 69(3), 35-42.
  
• Erk, R. (2004). Counseling Treatment for Children
  and Adolescents with DSM-IV-TR Disorders.
  Columbus,OH Merrill Prentice-Hall.
  
• Forness, S. R., Walker, H. M., Kavale, K. A.
  (2003). Psychiatric disorders and treatments A
  primer for teachers. TEACHING Exceptional
  Children, 36(2), 42-49.
• Guetzloe, E. (2003). Depression and disability in
  children and adolescents. ERIC digest No.
  EDOEC09). U.S. Virginia ERIC Clearinghouse on
  Disabilities and Gifted Education.
• http//teenink.com/Past/2004/November/18275.html
• http//www.helpguide.org/mental/depression_teen.ht
  m
  
• http//www.nasponline.org/index2.html
• http//www.psycom.net/depression.central.children.
  html, Depression and Suicide in Children and
  Adolescents
  
• http//www.redflags.org
• http//www.save.org
• National Center for Health Statistics. Health,
  United Staes, 2004. With chartbook on trends in
  the health of Americans. Hyattsville, MD. 2004.
  
• Phillips, J. H., Corcoran, J., Grossman, C.
  (2003). Implementing a cognitive-behavioral
  curriculum for adolescents with depression in the
  school setting. Children Schools, 25(3),
  147-158.
• Sarafolean, M.H., (2000). Depression in
  school-age children and adolescents
  Characteristics, assessment and prevention. A
  Pediatric Perspective, 9(4) July/August, 152-158.