Adolescent Social Emotional Health

1
Adolescent Social Emotional Health

• Understanding Adolescent Depression and
  Suicidality
• How we can HELP.
• Positive Interventions
• Dr. Stephanie Sheridan and Todd Daly

2
Suicide Prevention

• Prevention may be a matter of
• A caring person with the right knowledge
• Being Available
• In the right place at the right time
• American Foundation for Suicide prevention

3
Depression

• It is a serious treatable health problem that can
  affect people of all ages.
• Persistent experience of a sad or irritable mood
  as well as anhedonia a loss of the ability to
  experience pleasure in nearly all activities.
• More than just feeling down or having a bad day.
• It is a form of mental illness that affects the
  entire person.
• It changes the way one feels, thinks, and acts
  and is not a personal weakness or a character
  flaw.
• If untreated, can lead to school failure,
  substance abuse, or even suicide.

4
What is Depression?

• Emotions Thoughts
• Sad Hopeless
• Bored Self-critical
• Joyless Glass half-full
• Anxious
• Easily Upset
• Body Relationships
• Disturbed sleep Withdrawn
• Disturbed appetite Irritable
• Poor Concentration Pessimistic
• Low Energy

5
How Depression looks in TEENS

• Irritable or angry mood (A depressed teenager may
  be grumpy, hostile, easily frustrated, or prone
  to angry outbursts).
• Extreme sensitivity to criticism - (Depressed
  teens are plagued by feelings of worthlessness,
  making them extremely vulnerable to criticism,
  rejection, and failure. This is a particular
  problem for over-achievers.)
• Aches and pains (Depressed teens frequently
  complain about physical ailments such as
  headaches or stomachaches).
• Social Isolation
• Frequent sadness or crying
• Frequent absences from school, poor academic
  performance, or changes in grades or attendance.

6
What can a parent do?!

• Take ALL talk of suicide seriously
• LISTEN carefully
• REFLECT what you hear
• Listen without lecturing
• VALIDATE feelings
• Show you CARE

7
Tips for preventing STRESSED OUT TEENS

• Set a good example (try to remain calm when
  handling stressful situations)
• Listen to your child without being critical and
  try to use positive reinforcement rather than
  punishment.
• Encouraging success in activities is important,
  but sometimes the teen needs to know you simply
  care about and support him or her.
• Explain why you make certain decisions when
  possible and allow the child to have some control
  in their life.

8
MORE tips

• Help the child relax. Spend calm and relaxed time
  with your child regularly.
• Ask the childs input in decisions when possible
  and allow the child to have some control in his
  or her life.
• Limit television, internet and video games
  played. This can lead to social isolation,
  possible depression.
• Ensure your child gets regular exercise, proper
  nutrition and adequate sleep.

9
Several Palo Alto nonprofit organizations
provide counseling and other services??

• Adolescent Counseling Services??Adolescent
  Counseling Services offers counseling and
  preventive education in order to empower teens
  and their families to realize their emotional and
  social potential.??Where 4000 Middlefield Road,
  Building FH, Palo Alto??Information
  www.acs-teens.org, 650-424-0852???

10
Resources

• Family and Children Services??Services include
  counseling for children, teens, adults and
  families, anger management and violence-prevention
  classes, parenting education, crisis services
  and more. Multilingual.??Where 375 Cambridge
  Ave., Palo Alto??Information www.fcservices.org,
  650-326-6576???

11
Resources

• Kara??Kara, a Palo Alto grief-support nonprofit,
  offers counseling and grief-support groups for
  children, teenagers and adults who have
  experienced the death of a loved one.??Where 457
  Kingsley Ave., Palo Alto??Information
  www.kara-grief.org, 650-321-5272???

12
Resources

• Suicide Crisis Hotline??Counselors listen to
  callers 24 hours a day and will refer them to
  helpful services, if they'd like. Private and
  confidential.??Where By phone??Information
  408-279-3312???

13
Resources

• Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF)??PAMF will
  see teens affected by the recent Gunn suicides
  whether or not they have insurance that covers
  behavioral-health services at PAMF. PAMF will not
  charge for teens who do not have coverage for
  such care at PAMF. In addition, families and
  teens can bring depression concerns to their
  primary-care physicians, who can screen for and
  treat depression. ?Where 795 El Camino Real,
  Palo Alto?Information 650-853-2904