•Clinical Definition•What does it mean?

• Who Suffers from Depression• Causes•Signs/ Symptoms• Treatment• Help

A medical condition that leads to intense feelings of sadness or despair; these feelings don't go away on their own, and are not necessarily related to a particular life event.

Depression is an illness that affects the body, mood and thoughts It impacts the way a person functions socially, at school or work,

and in relationships. It is more than feeling blue, down in the dumps or sad about a

particular issue or situation. It is a medical condition that requires diagnosis and treatment Nuerotransmitters: Chemicals in the brain that allow nerve cells to

"communicate" with one another What does this mean?

Too few or too many neurotransmitters may be released and cause or contribute to depression.

Depression can affect anyone but there is a significantly higher rate of depression among women than men.

17 million Americans develop depression each year.

8.6% of adults over 18 have a mental health problem for at least 2 weeks a year.

2% of Children get depressed 6-8% of Teenagers

Survey- reported that 1 of every 10 American high school students reported making a suicide attempt the year before.

Teenage boys are more likely than girls to commit suicide.

Look for a change in behavior or performance in school

It is NOT something to be ashamed of.

It is NOT a character flaw or sign of weakness.

No one with depression can just

“Snap Out of It”.

TREATABLE

No matter what the cause of a persons depression, there is treatment and it is widely available!!

Depression can be caused by one or more of the following:

Imbalance of certain chemicals in the brain

Triggered by stress, medication or other medical problems

Certain personality factors or genetic traits

Must last for more than two weeks difficulty concentrating, remembering

details, and making decisions fatigue and decreased energy Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and/or

helplessness feelings of hopelessness and/or pessimism insomnia, early-morning wakefulness, or

excessive sleeping

irritability, restlessness loss of interest in activities or hobbies once

pleasurable overeating or loss of appetite persistent aches or pains, headaches,

cramps, or digestive problems that do not ease even with treatment

persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" feelings thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts

Approximately 80% of people who receive treatment for Depression improve.

There are three types of treatment: Psychotherapy Medication Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

a procedure used to treat severe depression. It may be used in people with symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations, or suicidal thoughts or when other treatments such as psychotherapy and antidepressant medicines have not worked

Psychotherapy is a form of “talking therapy” that works by helping a person gain an understanding or insight into their problems and work on solving them.

Behavioral psychotherapy is a type of therapy that looks at patterns of behavior that may contribute to depression.

Anti-depressant Medication helps by affecting the brain chemistry.

Often take 3-5 weeks to become fully effective, but improvement is often experienced within the first week.

They work well and are safe They are Non-habit forming!

Faster acting than most medications Is usually done on an Out Patient basis Can be used in combination with medication

and therapy Can be done 2-3 x’s/week for 2-3 weeks or can

be used as maintenance therapy for those who remain medication resistant which is done 1x/week until tapering off to 1x/month

ECT is a painless procedure A person is put to sleep with general

anesthesia Muscle relaxers are used to prevent any injury

from the procedure Oxygen is given by mask during ECT The whole treatment takes 5 minutes You are awake, up walking and eating

breakfast with one hour. Home within two!

Listen and provide support Be patient, understanding and encouraging Don’t dismiss the symptoms but you can offer

hope Try to understand the negative feelings the

person may be feeling Remember that depression is a medical condition

Take care of the “little things”

Remind person to keep doctor’s appointments and to take their medication!

Help to support healthy habits: good sleeping habits, eating well, trying to get exercise

Offer Support Let the person know that you’re there for them. Refrain from asking a lot of questions.

Be Gentle but Persistent Don’t give up, the person may shut you out at first. The

hardest thing to do is admit that there is a problem… BUT it is the first step to recovery

Listen Without Lecturing Do not pass judgment, the important thing is that the person

is talking. Validate Feelings

Acknowledge the feelings of pain and sadness they are feeling, even if you think they are irrational. If you do not, they will feel you don’t take their emotions

seriously and will further their feelings of loneliness.

Suicide threats are to be taken seriously!

Take care of your self

Remember: Depression is a very treatable illness, and you or

your loved one can get better with appropriate medical treatment and support!

In School:• Student Assistance Counselors

- Ms. Kumpf

• School Nurses - Ms. Masterson - Ms. Kivetz

• Guidance Councelors• Teachers• Principals• Coaches

Local Help• Somerset County (908)-253-3160• Morris County (973)-839-2521 ex.

228

National Suicide• 1-800-SUICIDE• 1-800-273-TALK