Transcript Including Students with Depression

Including Students with
Depression
Tristan Cox and Lillian Jones
Creating Attachments
If we want students to trust us and
confide in us, we must create a safe
environment for them to do so
We must also make attachments with
the students to ensure they can trust
us and will want to trust us
What is Depression
Mood disorder
“Caused” by interactions of genetics,
biological, psychological, and
environmental factors
Affects mind and body
Impacts thoughts, feelings, behaviour,
or physical conditions
Symptoms
Students may feel sad or irritable
Can lose interest or focus
Feelings of overly tired, anxious,
worthlessness, hopelessness
Can lead to disruptive behaviour,
social or school problems, alcohol or
drug use
Who Has Depression
Anyone-ESL, Special Needs, “normal”
student, etc.
Can include students who had a bad
day or event
Diagnosed or Undiagnosed
Can run in the family
All students who show signs of
depression should be treated the
same
What to Look For
Withdrawn in class or with friends
Lack of concentration
A normally chatty student is very quiet
Unhappy or angry emotions or facial
expressions
Writing or talking about death or
disappearing
Read to Yourself
I have been living a lie, and I don’t feel
that I can continue. I do not feel loved
at school or at home, and I want to
disappear. I cannot continue with the
way I have been living, especially as
nobody seems to care about me. I
am sorry to have ruined all your lives.
Please tell my family I loved them and
that this is nobody’s fault.
When it Goes Too Far…
Can lead to feelings of inadequacy
Thoughts could turn suicidal
Statistics can be untrue though
-if a teen is the only person in a
car when it crashed into a tree, is it an
accident or suicide?
Approximately 15% of depressed
people commit suicide
Suicide Warning Signs
IS PATH WARM
Ideation
Substance Abuse
Purposelessness Anxiety Trapped
Hopelessness
Withdrawal
Anger
Recklessness
Mood Changes
Risk Factors
Having a family history of suicide
Making a previous attempt
Suffering from disorders that affect
emotions or behaviour
Experiencing stressful events
Being rejected
Having poor peer relationships
Experiencing problems with sexual issues
Suicide Notes
Generally vague or overly specific
Should always be taken seriously
12-20% of all suicides are
accompanied by a note
Any written material that discusses
death or disappearing requires you to
talk to the student!
Reasons for the Note
Ease the pain of those known to the
victim by attempting to dissipate guilt
Increase the pain of survivors by
attempting to create guilt
To set out reasons for suicide
Does this sound different now?
I have been living a lie, and I don’t feel
that I can continue. I do not feel loved
at school or at home, and I want to
disappear. I cannot continue with the
way I have been living, especially as
nobody seems to care about me. I
am sorry to have ruined all your lives.
Please tell my family I loved them and
that this is nobody’s fault.
Adaptations
Report any suicidal discussions to
administration/appropriate people
If the threat is serious do not leave
the student alone
Set aside time to talk with the student
Show you care about them all the
time
Show them that others care about
them
Adaptations
Always ask the student about suspicious
behaviour
Let the student know before contacting
parents or other professionals
Ensure confidentiality with all information
Make sure the student is treated the same
after the incident(s) as before
Refer the student to the appropriate people
in private (with student knowledge)
Adaptations
Group work with friends (if applicable)
Ask students in private what they
would like in class
Give private time for work or reflection
Allow student to wander the halls or
talk to a trusted adult
Do Not Do Anything to Draw Undue
Attention to the Student
Teacher’s Resources
Developmental Assets (Healthy
Development needs)
What should I not say?
Self-Checklist for your health
Resources
When Nothing Matters Anymore: A Survival Guide
for Depressed Teens, Bev Cobain, 1998
Depression, Wendy Moragne, 2001
Teaching Students with Mental Health Disorders,
Resources for Teachers. Volume 2: Depression.
BC Ministry of Education, 2001
40 Developmental Assets, Search Institute, 2006
What Should I Not Say? Adapted from
www.wingofmadness.com