Brenda Sooter, Director of Education

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Kansas Learning Center for Health
Presents
Brenda Sooter, Director of Education Debbie
Nightingale, Instructor
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You May Have The Key
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50 of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin
by age 14 By age 18, 10-20 of teens will
experience major depression Less than 1/3 get
help Untreated depression leads to increased
severity
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1,000 high school teens attempt suicide each day
in the U.S.
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Depression can happen to anyone
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Teen Depression

• Inexplicable disconnect from self, family
  friends
• Difficult to recognize
• Sense of being different

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Program Goals

• Erase stigma
• Make a positive impact on youth and teens
• Prevent the momentum of untreated illness

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Where does it begin?

• We are a complicated, inter-related system of
  biology, genetics, life stresses, family and
  social dynamics, nutrition, sleep patterns,
  spiritual experiences, and more.

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Causes of Depression

• Three points of view
• Neuro-chemical
• Styles of thinking
• Experiences of loss
• Combination of the above
• Stress ? Anxiety Depression
• ? ?
• Avoidance ? Loss

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Visible Brain Differences
Normal Depressed
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Experiences of Pain
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Signs of Depression

• Loss of energy, fatigue
• Mood of hopelessness, pessimism
• Too little/much eating or sleeping
• Withdrawal from activities and friends
• Sense of worthlessness, guilt, ruminating

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Signs of Depression

• Excessive anger
• Anxiety, phobias or fears
• Restlessness
• Alcohol/substance abuse
• Unexplained physical complaints
• Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
• Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide

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Types of Depression

• Short/Long Term
• Major Depression
• Dysthymia
• Bi-polar Disorder
• Post Traumatic Stress
• Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
• Eating disorders, OCD, anxiety and
• other often related conditions

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Depression in the School Setting
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Impact on School Experience

• Lowered grades
• Difficulty with remaining in classroom, absence
• Sensitivity to noise, confusion, etc
• Self-concept invested in achievements
• Feel like an imposter that has been found out
• Believe it is unfair to receive accommodations
• What about college?!

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Compounded by Stigma

• Ideas of judgment, shame, or blame about
  depression
• Stigma leads to helplessness, anger and fear
• Confusion Depressed teens show different faces
  at different times

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• There is Help and Hope
• Its treatable
• 80 recover with therapy and medication
• Management skills learned for earlier response

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The Path Out RequiresSelf-awareness and
Self-nurture
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Self-awareness and Self-nurture
Know signs
Learn triggers
Try interventions
Reconnect to self
Maintain what works

• Adjust as you go

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Teens Work at Healing
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The Path Out

• Get to a safe place
• Mind- counseling, affirmations, knowledge, social
  support, etc
• Body- medication, movement, rest, nutrition,
  breathing, etc
• Spirit- nature, laughter, animals,
  prayer/meditation, etc

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Medication

• A tool for recovery of chemical balance- part of
  the whole
• Are a trial and error process
• Need to be monitored
• Alcohol and drugs seriously complicate function

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Healing requires positive connections with adults
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What You Can Do

• Cognitive/Internal Responses
• 1.    Believe it!
• 2.   Dont take it personally
• 3.   Dont assume theyre fine
• 4.   Know your limits/care for self
• 5.   Trust your instincts

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What You Can Do

• Behavioral/External Responses
• Provide a safe environment
• Use multiple methods to communicate- above all,
  listen
• Be consistent- they will assume you blew them
  off
• Adapt assignments as needed
• Be gently insistent yet remember the roller
  coaster
• Build sense of personal competence built on
  strengths

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What You Can Do

• Situation Management
• Talk with parents and school team
• Be sure every teen has one adult with whom they
  connect
• Report remarks about suicide
• Resources and referrals
• Model stress, anger and depression management
• ACT- acknowledge, care, talk

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Time and Help Bring Hopeful Outcomes

If you are interested in having this program
presented for your school or organization please
call 1-800-798-2124
brenda_at_learningcenter.org