Name: ______

Depression and Suicide

Everyone feels depressed now and then. It is normal to feel depressed after suffering a significant loss or failure. However, depression lifts after a few days. It is when depression lingers- that problems may occur.

Recognizing depression:

  • 1 in 12 teens experience clinical depression before they are 18 years old.
  • Females are 2x as likely to suffer from depression than males.
  • Some may have one episode of depression, while others have more than one episode.

Risk Factors:

Depression may arrive “out of the blue.” Having 1 or more of these risk factors does not guarantee you are depressed.

  • A parent or other biological relative with a mood disorder
  • A major life change or a prolonged stressful situation
  • Being the victim of a crime or witnessing violence
  • A previous bout of depression
  • A sense of hopelessness

Signs of Clinical Depression

Treatment for Depression

Normally chemicals in the brain control how signals pass from one nerve cell to another. When someone is depressed, the brain does not use these chemicals properly.

  • EXERCISE
  • EAT right!
  • Medication may be necessary
  • See a doctor

Self Injury-

An unhealthy way to cope with emotions, stress, or a traumatic event.

Cutting- the use of a sharp object to intentionally cut or scratch one’s body deep enough to bleed

Burning- burn the skin on purpose with a lighted match or cigarette.

Suicide Prevention

Suicide- the intentional killing of oneself.

  • It affects all kinds of people: young, bright, average, female, male.
  • Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death among teenagers.
  • Since 1990, it has declined

Risk Factors-

Mood disorders, such as depression, are a major risk for suicide

Other factors are:

  • A previous suicide attempt or a family history of suicide
  • Having both a mental disorder AND a substance abuse disorder

Protective Factors

  • Treat the mental disorder, especially if it is depression
  • Have a close relationship with family and friends
  • Have personal beliefs that discourage suicide
  • Having knowledge of resolving conflicts in a non- threatening way lowers risk of suicide

Helping Yourself

  • Crisis centers and suicide- prevention hotlines are good resources to use
  • Talk about your feeling/ emotions with friends/family
  • School nurse, counselor, psychologist

Homework:

Find out if there is a suicide hotline in your neighborhood/ community. Are they volunteers that answer the phone or trained professionals? Are teens allowed to answer the phone? Write a paragraph summarizing what you have found out.