Transcript Depression and Anxiety 101

Heather Koster, MSW, LICSW
Cayla Rother, LSW, MaEd
Jyoti Sinha, MSW, LGSW
Nancy VanHorne, MSW, LICSW
THE PRE-K YEARS
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Depression
Anxiety
Looks bored or listless
Has difficulty stopping worries
Seems left out / rejected
Worries he will do something embarrassing or
“stupid” in front of others
Not interested in activities including play
Not having fun or enthusiastic
Keeps checking that he has done things right /
needs constant reassurance
Looks sad and tearful
Tense, restless or irritable due to worrying
Doesn’t seem to care about anything
Is scared to ask an adult /teacher for help
Avoids contact with others / rejects others
Seems cranky, irritable or moody
Is reluctant to go to sleep without you or to sleep
away from you / home
Needs to rest frequently / looks tired
Has trouble sleeping due to worrying
Cries for no apparent reason
Afraid to talk or write in front of others / class
Looks angry / argumentative
Worried that something bad might happen to him or
a parent (kidnapped, lost, sick, death) so he
won’t be able to see you again
Hits or fights with others
Physical complaints (head aches, stomach aches)
Becomes overly distressed about your leaving him at
school / daycare (separation)
Physical complaints (head aches, stomach aches)
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Depression
Anxiety
Sadness that won’t go away
(generalized anxiety disorder, phobias,
social phobias, Obsessivecompulsive disorder, panic
disorder, post-traumatic stress
disorder)
Frequent fearfulness
Low self Esteem and guilt
Hopelessness
Irritability
School avoidance
Frequent complaints of aches and pains
Absences
Refusal to join in social activities
Isolating behavior
Thought of death or suicide
Excessive worry about
homework/grades
Self-deprecating remarks
Physical complaints
Persistent boredom, low energy, or poor
concentration
Unrealistic, obsessive fears
Increased activity
Tension about everyday life events
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
*IN ADDITION TO THE OTHER SYMPTOMS EXPLAINED IN YOUNGER AGES*
Depression
Poor academic motivation
Flat affect or sad demeanor
Social isolation
Pessimism and feelings of
hopelessness
Irritability and overreactions
Sleep changes
Fatigue
Somatic complaints
Appetite changes
Loss of interest in activities or
school participation
Anxiety
Somatic complaints such as;
headaches, stomach aches &
muscle pain
Excessive worry leads to avoidance
behaviors; (assignments, class,
attendance, social isolation)
Sleep disturbances
Restless, irritability and frustration
Falling grades
Panic attacks
Frequent bathroom trips
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Depression
Difficulty concentrating
•
Sleeping in classes
•
•
Changes in attendance
Drop in grades
•
•
Sudden frustration with school
•
•
•
Low energy
Withdrawl from normal school
activities
Major behavioral changes (defiant,
overly moody, chemical use)
Anxiety
• Frequent somatic
complaints (headaches,
stomachaches, etc)
• More visits to the health
office
• Drop in grades
• School avoidance
• Panic attacks during the
school day
WHERE TO GO, WHAT TO DO?
You are the expert when it comes to your child.
However, there are people at your child’s school
who can be helpful, and you should feel comfortable
talking to them.
Why should I talk to someone at my child’s
school?
• School staff members can do a better job of
teaching your child if they know what health
and/or mental health help is needed.
WHO CAN I TALK TO AT MY CHILD’S SCHOOL?
Whoever your starting point is, please know that we work together to
figure out who is best to work on interventions with your child.
• Classroom teacher • Principal or assistant principal
• School nurse • School social worker
• School counselor • Special education case manager
• School psychologist • Transition teacher or specialist
COMMUNICATION
What I say
•
I’m concerned
•
What do you see at home?
•
Let me know if I can help
•
Have you discussed it with your
pediatrician? Did you bring the
specifics up during your visit?
What does it mean
•
We are partners. Please know the professional
saying this believes your child is displaying
behavior not typical to his or her peers.
•
We are trying to gather information about
different settings (home, school, daycare). It
helps to determine a course of intervention.
•
If you are worried about treatment cost, there
are resources in the community I might be able
to connect you to.
•
Some parents assume the school professional
is asking them to medicate their child. Not the
case. Medical professionals have knowledge
and access to medical resources that are
additional to what a school does.
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT FROM THE SCHOOL?
• To be treated as a key partner in your child’s
education and care.
• To get answers to your questions in a
language you can understand, in writing if
you ask for it.
• To be told about any health or behavior or
emotional related problems that happen at
school.
• To have a teacher, school nurse, counselor,
or social worker answer questions about
your child’s needs.
ADVOCATE!
We want you to be heard.
If you don’t feel you have been, please
feel free to talk to someone else.
WHAT SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE AT MY CHILD’S
SCHOOL?
-Social Work Services: resource referral ; collaboration with
teachers; short term therapeutic interventions
-School Psychologists, Guidance Counselor, School Nurse are also
available
We communicate as a team and schools have a process in place for
addressing student needs (Student Assistance Teams, Problem
Solving Teams, Response to Intervention).
What are some of the
possible interventions at
school to help my child?
-Check ins during the day
-Assisting with testing environment (small group
testing, or quiet area for testing for test anxiety)
-Skill teaching/training
-Emotional regulation
-Break times/break areas
-Support strategies recommended by
therapist/doctor
What if those
interventions aren’t
enough?
When mental health needs are
significantly impacting learning,
there is a process in every district
to review and determine the best
plan of action for your child and
their needs.
-Special Education Evaluation
-Section 504 Plan