Depression and Bipolar Disorder in Children Presented by Alexa Hartrich MS, MSW Community Liaison...

Depression and Depression and Bipolar Disorder in Bipolar Disorder in

ChildrenChildren

Depression and Depression and Bipolar Disorder in Bipolar Disorder in

ChildrenChildrenPresented by Alexa Hartrich MS, MSWPresented by Alexa Hartrich MS, MSW

Community Liaison Community Liaison Riveredge HospitalRiveredge Hospital

www.riveredgehospital.com

Riveredge Hospital

• Our missionOur mission: : We strive to foster an environment that demonstrates compassion and caring with timely and effective communication through comprehensive behavioral health care services of clinical excellence.


Riveredge Treatment• Riveredge offers Inpatient and Partial

Hospital Programs. Our treatment is client-centered with a commitment to Trauma Informed Care.

• Inpatient Programs • Partial Hospitalization • Intensive Outpatient Programs• Residential


Overview

• Mental Health/Mental Illness• Mood Disorders• Bipolar Disorder in Children/Adolescents • Treatment Options• Depression in Children/Adolescents• Treatment Options• Family Support• Q & A


Mental Health is characterized by…

• Ability to engage in productive activities

• Fulfilling relationships with others

• Ability to adapt to change• Capacity to cope with adversity


US Surgeon General’s landmark report on Mental Health, released in December of 1999

Mental Illness is NOT..• The result of poor

parenting• Anyone’s fault• A personal

weakness


Bipolar Disorder/ Depression has

affected:• Isaac Newton• Abraham Lincoln• Winston Churchill• Beethoven• Charles Dickens• Virginia Woolf• Ernest Hemingway…And probably enhanced their brilliance


Mental Illness is …• A health condition characterized by ALTERATIONS

IN THINKING, MOOD OR BEHAVIOR. (or a combination of the above ) associated with distress or impaired functioning.

• Mental illness is an “equal opportunity destroyer” – It can affect persons of all ages, races, socio-

economic level, religion, educational background, and gender

TREATMENT WORKS!Most people can and do Recover with

proper treatment!


Statistics


•Fewer than 1/2 of adults and 1/3 of children with diagnosable mental disorders receive any mental health treatment in a given year.

•The majority of persons with serious mental illness--55%--deny that they have any problem, and so do not seek treatment.

Mood Disorders• Mood disorders include:

– Major Depressive disorders (MDD)– Bipolar disorders

• Mood disorders are characterized by persistent disturbances, either highs or lows, in mood (emotions / affect).

• Everyone experiences ups and downs in response to events (good or bad) in their lives. Short-term ups and downs are normal; persistent ones lasting for days or weeks are not.

• Persistent highs or lows are mood disorders and need medical treatment.


Mood Disorders:Major Depressive

Disorder• Depression is more than

the blues. • Depression is not a

personal weakness.• Depression is a

treatable illness.• MDD affects 8% of

children and teens *

Schaffer et al. 1996


Symptoms of Depression in Children/Adolescents vs. Adults

• Frequent sadness, or crying • Decreased interest in activities • Persistent boredom; low energy • Social isolation • Low self-esteem and guilt • Extreme sensitivity to rejection or

failure • Increased irritability, anger, or

hostility • Frequent absences from school or

poor performance in school • Difficulty concentrating • A major change in eating and/or

sleeping patterns • Talk of, or efforts to run away from

home• (In older children) :

– Drug abuse or alcohol abuse

• Persistent sadness• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness,

helplessness• Lost interest in pleasurable

activity• Lack of energy• Fatigue• Anxiety, irritability• Thoughts of suicide• Digestive problems• Difficulty concentrating


Bipolar Disorder:• Bipolar disorder is a combination

of depressive and manic episodes.• Remember that during a

depressive episode, suicide is a considerable risk.

• Bipolar disorder is more than highs and lows.


Bipolar Facts & Stats• Bipolar disorder is more likely to affect the children of parents who

have the disorder. When one parent has bipolar disorder, the risk to each child is l5 to 30%. When both parents have bipolar disorder, the risk increases to 50 to 75%. (National Institute of Mental Health)

• Some 20% of adolescents with major depression develop bipolar disorder within five years of the onset of depression. (Birmaher, B., "Childhood and Adolescent Depression: A Review of the Past 10 Years." Part I, 1995)

• Up to one-third of the 3.4 million children and adolescents with depression in the United States may actually be experiencing the early onset of bipolar disorder. (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 1997)


Symptoms/Behaviors of Bipolar Disorder in Children/Adolescents

vs. Adults• Destructive rages• Impulsive behaviors• Extreme emotions • Oppositional behavior• Sensitivity to stimuli• Problems with peers• Temperature dysregulation• Craving carbs/sweets• Bedwetting and soiling• Hallucinations• Suicidal ideation• Easily startled/excitable• Separation distress• Overly sensitive to rejection

• Major mood swings• Sad or empty moods• Thoughts of death/suicide• Chronic pain• Excessive crying• Rash behavior like shopping

sprees, hyper-sexual• Poor judgment• Racing thoughts, pressured

speech• Grandiose delusions;

exaggerated optimism• Lack of sleep/excessive sleep• Lack of hunger/overeating• Rigid/less flexible


Mental Illness and the Impact on the Family


Financial

Marital

Stress/Time

Sibling Relationships

Treatment for Mood Disorders in

Children/Adolescents• Medication• Therapy

– Play therapy– Family therapy– CBT, etc

• Exercise • Group Therapy/ Support Groups • Eliminate/Minimize Video Games & TV• Diet

– Sugar intake reduced• Supplements

– Omega 3


Helpful supports …


Support GroupsNAMI DBSA

Educational Programming

Peer Support

Literature

Advocacy

Contact Info• Alexa Hartrich

– 773-991-2398– [email protected]

• 24 hour assessment and referral– 708-209-4181


Depression and Bipolar Disorder in Children Presented by Alexa Hartrich MS, MSW Community Liaison...

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