WHAT IS DEPRESSION 

• Not just “feeling blue” or” down in the dumps”
• More then being sad of feeling grief after a loss
• Medical disorder that affects your thoughts, feeling, physical health and behavior.
• Not a weakness
• Not your fault
• It is a treatable

CAUSES OF DEPRESSION

• Genetic predisposition and heredity
• Psychological stresses and adverse life events
• Alcohol or substance abuse

SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION

• Loss of interest in things you used to enjoy
• Feeling sad or down most of the time
• Feeling slowed down or restless (on the edge)
• Feeling worthless or quality
• Increase or decrease in appetite / weight
• Thoughts of death or suicides
• Problem concentrating, thinking, remembering or making decisions
• Trouble sleeping too much
• Headaches or sleeping too much
• Loss of energy or feeling tired all the time
• Digestive problems
• Being anxious or worried

TREATMENT OF DEPRESSION

• Many do not recognize the problem or have trouble asking for help
• Blame themselves
• Attempt self – cure.
• Proper treatment reduces pain and  suffering
• Removes all symptoms of depressions and returns to normal life
• Longer the illness, the more difficult it is to treat

TREATMENTS AVAILABLE

• Antidepressant medications like imipramine, fluoxetine, sertraline, venlafaxine etc.
• Psychotherapy like dynamic therapy, cognitive – behavioral therapy
• Electroconvulsive therapy

DANGERS OF DEPRESSION

• Damage to person’s marriage, family relationships, friendships, career and health
• Person’s may shut him / herself off from love and support of friends and family
• Attempt / commit suicide 

SUICIDE – WARNING SIGNS

• Talk about suicide or death
• Writings or drawings about suicide
• Failed suicide attempt
• Comments like “ Things will be different soon ” or “ All this will be over soon ”or” All this will be over soon “or” you won’t have to worry about me longer”
• Implusive, reckless behavior, taking big chances and casually risking injury
• Drug or alcohol abuse
• Putting things in order and typing up loose ends
• Giving away treasured objects
• Saying good bye
• Making plans for suicide
• A sudden good mood

TEENAGERS & DEPRESSION

• Teenage years are tough times. Trip from childhood to adulthood is failed with emotional ups and downs, new challenges and new concerns.
• Normal to have feelings of frustration, anger and sadness
• 5-10 % have depression
• Can cause eating disorders, self-destructive habits, alcohol or drugs problem
• Teenagers may not talk about their depression but it will show in their expression, body language and behavior.
• They may simply say that they are sad, they may not fully understand their feelings or know how to describe them.

WARNING SIGNS

• Looks different and worse than usual with dirty hair, clothes and messy room
• Does badly in school – gets, lower grades or bunks classes
• Drops out of favorite activities, sports or getting together with friends
• Becomes angry, irritable, aggressive or uncooperative without reason
• Seems to sleep all the time or never
• In involved in dangerous or risky behavior
• Feels guilty for no reason
• Has trouble thinking or remembering things
• Withdraws from family and friends
• Complains of constant headaches or stomach aches
• Talks about death or about hurting him/herself.

HOW TO HELP 

• BE THERE : they need you physically and emotionally. They may try to push you away, so gently but firmly insist on helping
• LISTEN : encourage them to talk about their feelings. Sad and frightening feelings have to be expressed or they will feel more isolated
• DO NOT CRITICIZE : do not lecture or make it better right away
• REASSURE : they think that depressed feelings will last forever show that you understand their feelings and that the bad time is only temporary
• GET HELP : call your family doctor or psychiatrist
• STAY INVOLVED : recovery is slow so learn about depression, about medicines and side-effects and help them make choices
• GUARD AGAINST SUICIDE : take every self-destructive act seriously, watch for warnings signs

Instruments for Practice

AVAILABILITY : Dr. Peter Birleson, Royal Children’s Hospital, Fleminton Road, Parkville, Victoria 3052. Australia

DSRS

Please answer as honestly as you can by indicating at left the number that best refers to how you have felt over the past week. There are no right answer; it is important to say how you have felt.

1 = Most of the time

2 = Sometimes

3 = Never

1. I look forward to things as much as I used to.
2. I sleep very well.
3. I feel like crying.
4. I like to go out to play.
5. I feel like running away.
6. I get tummy aches.
7. I have lots of energy.
8. I enjoy my food.
9. I can stick up for myself.
10. I think life isn’t worth living.
11. I am good at things I do.
12. I enjoy the things I do as much as I used to.
13. I like talkinmg with my family
14. I have horrible dreams.
15. I feel very lonely.
16. I am easily cheered up.
17. I feel so sad I can hardly stand it.
18. I feel very bored.