AmelieSherry

TEC62524
July30,2016
DepressionInquiryLessonLeadOut

OBJECTIVES

Awarenessandempathyforstudentswhohavedepression(AnticipatorySet)
Gainknowledgeaboutthedefinition,terminology,causes,symptoms,andwaysto
recognizedepressionamongstudentsintheclassroom(LeadOutandGroupActivity)

ANTICIPATORYSET

Purposeofset:

establishamoodforeveryonetoenterintotheexperienceofhow
studentswithdepressionthinkandfeel.
TurnontheGoogleSlidespresentationandaskallstudentstoputdowntheircomputer
screens.(Thefirstslideisallblack.)
Turnoffalllightsandallowtheretobeseveralminutesofsilenceinthedark.
PlaytheTedTalkandstopat3:14minutes.ItisapoembyEmilyDickinsonandan
introductiontodepression.
Accordingtoneuroscience,thisspeakerhasafullydevelopedbrain,ableto
selfregulateandcontrolemotions.Consideringtheshameinvolvedwith
depressionandtheridiculousnessofitseffectonahumanslife,wecanonly
imaginetheimpactthisproblemhasonanadolescent.
Pairwithanotherstudentandshareastoryofadifficultsituationyouwereinandhowan
adulthelpedyouthroughit.

LEADOUTANDGROUPACTIVITIES

Definition

Whatisthedifferencebetweensadnessanddepression?
Allowtimeforstudentstorespond
NationalSurveyonDrugUseandHealth(NSDUH):intheNSDUHstudy,amajor
depressiveepisodeisdefinedas:Aperiodoftwoweeksorlongerduringwhichthereis
eitherdepressedmoodorlossofinterestorpleasure,andatleastfourothersymptoms
thatreflectachangeinfunctioning,suchasproblemswithsleep,eating,energy,
concentration,andselfimage.

StatsforDepressiveDisorder

SeeGRAPH
Highestnumbers:olderage,females,andwhenpeopleidentifywith2+ethnicities
In2014,anestimated2.8millionadolescentsaged12to17intheUnitedStateshadat
leastonemajordepressiveepisodeinthepastyear.Thisnumberrepresented11.4%of
theU.S.populationaged12to17.
Steadyincreaseofmentalhealthhospitalizationoverthepast9yearsinCalifornia(data
basedonhospitalentrance,notemergencyroomsnorunreportedcases).
Studiesestimatethat,eachyear,upto1in5U.S.childrenexperienceamentaldisorder
andabout$247billionisspentonchildren'smentalhealthproblems.
1

Depressionaccountedfor44%ofallpediatricmentalhealthhospitaladmissions,costing
$1.33billion.
In2013,30%ofhighschoolstudentsnationwidereportedpersistentfeelingsofsadness
orhopelessnessoneindicatorofdepression.
Additionalinfo:
Thevastmajorityofemotionalhealthproblemsbegininadolescenceandyoung
adulthood,withhalfofalldisordersstartingbyage14.
Emotionalhealthisanintegralpartofoverallhealth,asphysicalandmental
healthareintricatelylinked.
Unfortunately,themajorityofyouthwhoneedmentalhealthtreatmentdonot
receiveit,andmentalhealthproblemsinchildhoodoftenhaveeffectsinto
adulthood.
LGBTisatahigherrisk

Types

1. Majordepression(akamajordepressivedisorder,clinical,unipolard.)
a. Asdescribedabove,itinvolveslowmoodand/orlossofinterestandpleasurein
usualactivities,aswellasothersymptoms.
b. Melancholia:describesasevereformofdepression
i.
Physicalsymptomsofdepressionarepresent.
ii.
Personstartstomovemoreslowly.
iii.
They'realsomorelikelytohaveadepressedmoodthatischaracterised
bycompletelossofpleasureineverything,oralmosteverything.
c. Psychotic
i.
Losetouchwithrealityandexperiencepsychosis.
ii.
Hallucinations(seeingorhearingthingsthataren'tthere)ordelusions
(falsebeliefsthataren'tsharedbyothers,i.ebelievingtheyarebador
evil,thatthey'rebeingwatchedorfollowed).
iii.
Theycanalsobeparanoid,feelingasthougheveryoneisagainstthemor
thattheyarethecauseofillnessorbadeventsoccurringaroundthem,
superpowers.
d. Antenatalandpostnataldepression:
i.
Womenareatanincreasedriskofdepressionduringpregnancy(known
astheantenatalorprenatalperiod)andintheyearfollowingchildbirth
(knownasthepostnatalperiod).
ii.
Youmayalsocomeacrosstheterm'perinatal',whichdescribesthe
periodcoveredbypregnancyandthefirstyearafterthebaby'sbirth.
iii.
10%ofwomenwillexperiencedepressionduringpregnancy.This
increasesto16%inthefirstthreemonthsafterhavingababy.
2. Bipolardisorder(2%ofpopulation)
a. Aka'Manicdepression'becausethepersonexperiencesperiodsofdepression
andperiodsofmania,withperiodsofnormalmoodinbetween.
i.
Mania(high),oppositeofdepression,varyinintensitysymptomsinclude
feelinggreat,havinglotsofenergy,havingracingthoughtsandlittleneed
forsleep,talkingquickly,havingdifficultyfocusingontasks,andfeeling
frustratedandirritable.
ii.
DepressionNormalcyManiaDepression
2

iii.

Thisisnotjustafleetingexperience:canlosetouchwithreality,episodes
ofpsychosishallucinationsorhavingdelusions
b. Seemsmostcloselylinkedtofamilyhistory.Stressandconflictcantrigger
episodesforpeoplewiththisconditionandit'snotuncommonforbipolardisorder
tobemisdiagnosedasdepression,alcohol/drugabuse,ADHDorschizophrenia.
c. Diagnosisdependsonthepersonhavinghadanepisodeofmaniaand,
unlessobserved,thiscanbehardtopick.Itisnotuncommonforpeopletogofor
yearsbeforereceivinganaccuratediagnosisofbipolardisorder.
3. Cyclothymicdisorder(milderformofbipolardisorder)
a. Chronicfluctuatingmoodsoveratleast2years,involvingperiodsofhypomania
(amildtomoderatelevelofmania)andperiodsofdepressivesymptoms,with
veryshortperiods(nomorethantwomonths)ofnormalitybetween.
b. Thedurationofthesymptomsareshorter,lesssevereandnotasregular,and
thereforedon'tfitthecriteriaofbipolardisorderormajordepression.
4. Dysthymicdisorder:Symptomssimilartomajordepressionbutlesssevere.
a. Symptomslastlonger.
b. Apersonhastohavethismilderdepressionfor+2yearstobediagnosed.
5. Seasonalaffectivedisorder(SAD):SADisamooddisorderthathasaseasonalpattern.
a. Thecauseofthedisorderisunclear,butit'sthoughttoberelatedtothevariation
inlightexposureindifferentseasons.It'scharacterisedbymooddisturbances
(eitherperiodsofdepressionormania)thatbeginandendinaparticularseason.
b. Depressionwhichstartsinwinterandsubsideswhentheseasonendsisthe
mostcommon.It'susuallydiagnosedafterthepersonhashadthesame
symptomsduringwinterforacoupleofyears.
c. PeoplewithSADdepressionaremorelikelytoexperiencealackofenergy,sleep
toomuch,overeat,gainweightandcraveforcarbohydrates.
IndicatorsofDepression:*ACTIVITYWITHCLASS*

Breakstudentsinto4groups.
Assigneachgroupacategory:Feelings,behavior,physical,thoughts
Therearerecurringsignsthatweasteachersneedtobeawareofinordertodetermine
ifastudentmightbeexhibitingthesesymptomsofdepression.
Question:Comeupwithalistofsymptomsandsignsstudentswillshowif
theyareexperiencingdepression
Additionalsigns
Fixationonpastfailuresorexaggeratedselfblameorselfcriticism.
Youthwithdepressionaremorelikelytoengageinsuicidalbehavior,dropoutof
school,usealcoholordrugs,andhaveunsafesexualactivity,inadditionto
havingdifficultieswithschoolandrelationships.

Causes*ACTIVITYWITHCLASS*

Splitstudentsinto4groups.
Eachgroupisassignedastoryfromastudentperspective(oneexceptionwith
parentssinceyoungstudentswouldhaveahardertimespeakingoutagainst
theirparentsasthecauseofdepression)
3

Readshortarticle,identifycausesofdepression,identifysolutions/waystohelp
studentsovercomedepression,andbereadytosharewithclass.
Group1:AlicesStory
Group2:AlisStory
Group3:MeganMeiersStory
Group4:Parents(startwiththeparagraphwaydownthearticle,As
parents,ourintentionsaresound)
FocusCauses
Cyberbullying
Iwantedtoknowifcyberbullyingleadtomorecasesofdepressionthan
othertypesofbullying.
"Notably,cybervictimsreportedhigherdepressionthancyberbulliesor
bullyvictims,whichwasnotfoundinanyotherformofbullying,"thestudy
authorswroteintheJournalofAdolescentHealth."unliketraditional
bullyingwhichusuallyinvolvesafacetofaceconfrontation,cybervictims
maynotseeoridentifytheirharasserassuch,cybervictimsmaybe
morelikelytofeelisolated,dehumanizedorhelplessatthetimeofthe
attack."
Theresearchersfoundthatyouthwhowerefrequentlyinvolvedwith
bullyingbehaviors,regardlessofthetypeofbullyinginvolved,reported
higherdepressionscoresthandidyouthonlyoccasionallyinvolvedwith
suchbehaviors
HelicopterParents
Supplementalinformationtoaugmentdiscussion.
Causescanbeanything:genetics,pressuresfromvariousinfluences,
temperaments(i.e.LGBT),personality,parents,bullying,traumaticevent(parent
divorce,death).
Traumaticexperiencesthatleadtodepressionareparticularlycommonfor
certainpopulations,suchasU.S.combatveterans,innercityresidents,and
immigrantsfromcountriesinturmoil.
Factorsoftenlinkedtoraceorethnicity,suchassocioeconomicstatusorcountry
oforigincanincreasethelikelihoodofexposuretothesestressorssuchas
poverty,violence,andotherstressfulsocialenvironments(thoughnotuniqueto
anypartoftheglobe).
Depressiondoesntdiscriminate.Itaffectseverydemographic,socioeconomic
status,race,culture,gender,etc.
Slide19Summaryofallwhateveryonediscussed.

Stigma(Mustunderstandbeforeabletohelp)

Widespreadpeoplewithmentalproblemsinternalizepublicattitudesandbecomeso
embarrassedorashamedthattheyoftenconcealsymptomsandfailtoseektreatment
Lowersaccesstoresourcesandopportunities(housingandemployment)andleadsto
diminishedselfesteemandgreaterisolationandhopelessness

Solutions(*Partofaboveactivitywiththeclass)

Shiftoffocusfrompreventionandtreatmenttomentalwellness.

Soundyouthemotionalhealth,whichismorethantheabsenceofdisorders,
includeseffectivecopingskillsandtheabilitytoformpositiverelationships,to
adaptinthefaceofchallenges,andtofunctionwellathome,school,life.
Positiveemotionalormentalhealthiscriticaltoequippingyoungpeopleforthe
challengesofgrowingupandlivingashealthyadults
PositiveschoolclimatetoreducehighriskforLGBTstudents.
Mentalhealthisinfluencedbysocioeconomic,biological,andenvironmental
factors,andpromotingpositiveemotionalhealthrequirescoordinated,
crosssectorstrategiesthattargetunderlyingcauses.
Settingschoolpoliciesthatfosterapositive,supportiveenvironmentandpromote
studentengagementinschool,andsupportingcomprehensiveK12educationfor
socialemotionallearning,includingcommunicationskills,problemsolvingskills,
andstressmanagement.
Supportingeffortstopromoteparentmentalhealthandpositiveparentingskills,
includingincreasedscreeningforparentaldepression.
Training
Ensuringadequatefundingandtrainingforarangeofschoolstafftorecognize
signsofmentaldistressandreferstudentstoservicessuchtrainingalsoshould
focusonhowtopromoteasafeandsupportiveenvironmentforallstudents,
includingLGBTyouth.
Increasingaccesstohighqualityearlychildhoodeducation,especiallyfor
lowincomechildren,andensuringthatearlyeducationstaffaretrainedon
socialemotionallearning.
Community
Promotingeffortsincommunitiestoprovideyouthwithpositiveexperiences,
relationships,andopportunities,suchasqualityafterschoolprogramsandsafe
placestoplayandexercise.
Promotingmentalhealthtrainingformedicalresidentsandpediatricians,and
expandingtheworkforceofqualifiedmentalhealthprofessionalsservingyouth,
includingschoolcounselors,psychiatrists,andprimarycarephysicians.
Supportingtrainingsandmediacampaignstoreducethestigmaassociatedwith
mentalhealthproblemsandincreaseknowledgeofwarningsignstrainingscould
includementalhealthfirstaidforwiderangingaudiences,focusingonhowto
recognizeearlywarningsigns,providenonprofessionalsupport,andhelpyouth
accesscommunityresources.
Funding
Ensuringmentalhealthfundingisalignedwithwhatisknownabouttheageof
onsetofdisorders,populationsathigherrisk(e.g.,childreninpoverty,LGBT
youth,andchildreninfostercare,amongothers),andeffectiveservicesand
strategies,whichincludeincreasedintegrationandcoordinationamongmental
healthservicesandothersystems,suchashealthcare,education,childwelfare,
andjuvenilejustice.
SOURCE

CLOSURE

Teachersareinstrumentsofinfluence!
Itstartswithawarenesscoupledwithgoodteachingpedagogy(allthatwehavebeen
learningoverthecourseofthesepast7months)
Wearenottheirsavior,butwecanbeamountainmovingadvocateforthem.

CHECKFORUNDERSTANDING

InformalAssessment(observation):Throughthediscussions,questions,andinputof
studentsthroughouttheleadout.

REFERENCES

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Beyondblue.SignsandSymptomsofDepression.N.p.,n.d.Web.23July2016.
CDCChildDevelopment,Adolescence(1517YearsOld)NCBDDD.N.p.,n.d.Web.21July
2016.
CyberbullyingonSocialMediaLinkedtoTeenDepression.N.p.,n.d.Web.27July2016.
DepressionHighamongYouthVictimsofSchoolCyberBullying,NIHResearchersReport.National
InstitutesofHealth(NIH).N.p.,31Aug.2015.Web.23July2016.
DepressionInTeens.MentalHealthAmerica.N.p.,n.d.Web.21July2016.
DepressionRelatedFeelings(StudentReported),byLevelofConnectednesstoSchool.
Kidsdata.org.N.p.,n.d.Web.21July2016.
EducationalLeadership:InterventionsThatWork:RespondingtoaStudentsDepression.N.p.,n.d.
Web.27July2016.
LythcottHaims,Julie,andRuthGraham.KidsofHelicopterParentsAreSputteringOut.Slate5
July2015.Slate.Web.27July2016.
TeensShareStoriesAboutDepression.Teenbeing.N.p.,n.d.Web.27July2016.
TheTopSixUnforgettableCyberBullyingCasesEver|NoBullyingBullying&CyberBullying
Resources.N.p.,23Apr.2013.Web.29July2016.
OfficeoftheSurgeonGeneral,CenterforMentalHealthServices(us),andNationalInstituteof
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Health.SubstanceAbuseandMentalHealthServicesAdministration(US),2001.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.Web.22July2016.