The document discusses depression and suicide in teenagers. It defines depression as a mood disorder causing persistent sadness and loss of interest. There are four main types of depression that affect teens: adjustment disorder, dysthymia, bipolar disorder, and major depression. Risk factors include family history, abuse, bullying and medical issues. Left untreated, depression can lead to problems in school, family life, substance abuse, self-harm and suicide. Warning signs of suicidal thoughts are discussed. Treatment involves therapy, medication, and hospitalization if needed. Parents are advised to provide love, support, and healthy habits to help prevent and treat depression and suicide in teens.

1. DEPRESSION AND SUICIDE

2. DEPRESSION
 Teenage depression, this mental and emotional
disorder is no different medically from adult
depression.
 Depression is a mood disorder that causes a
persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. It is
also major depressive disorder or
clinical depression, it affects how you feel, think and
behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and
physical problems. It can affect your
 personal life
 school life
 work life
 social life
 family life

3. TYPES OF DEPRESSION
There are four main types of depression that commonly affect
teenagers.
1. Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood
An adjustment disorder occurs in response to a life
event. Moving to a new school, the death of a loved one or
dealing with a parents’ divorce are examples of changes that
can spur an adjustment disorder in teens.
Adjustment disorders begin within a few months of the event
and may last up to six months. If symptoms persist beyond
six months, another diagnosis would be more appropriate.
Although brief in nature, adjustment disorders can interfere
with sleep, school work, and social functioning. Your teen
may benefit from talk therapy to teach him new skills or help
him cope with the stressful situation.

4. 2. Dysthymia
Dysthymia is a low grade, chronic depression that
lasts for more than a year. Teens with dysthymia
are often irritable and they may have low energy,
low self-esteem and feelings of hopelessness.
Their eating habits and sleeping patterns may also
be disturbed. Frequently, dysthymia interferes
with concentration and decision making. It's
estimated that 4 out of every 100 teens meet the
diagnostic criteria.
Although dysthymia isn’t as severe as major
depression, the long duration can take a serious
toll on a teen’s life. It can interfere with learning,
socialization and overall functioning

5. 3. Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is characterized by episodes of
depression followed by periods of mania or
hypomania (a less severe form of mania). Symptoms of
mania include a reduced need for sleep, difficulty
focusing, and a short-temper.
During a manic episode, a teen is likely to talk fast, feel
very happy or silly, and be willing to engage in risky
behaviour. Many teens engage in high-risk sexual
behaviour during a manic episode.
Teens with bipolar disorder will likely experience
significant impairment in their daily functioning. Their
severe mood changes interfere with their education and
friendships.

6. 4. Major Depression
Major depression is the most serious form of
depression. It is estimated that 8 percent of teens
meet the criteria for major depression, according to
the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Younger children have about equal rates of depression
based on gender. After puberty, however, girls are
twice as likely to be diagnosed with depression.
Symptoms of major depression include persistent
sadness and irritability, talk about suicide, a lack of
interest in enjoyable activities and frequent reports of
physical aches and pains.
Major depression causes severe impairments at home
and at school. Treatment usually involves therapy and
may include medication.

7. Cause of Depression
 It's not known exactly what causes depression, but a variety of
issues may be involved. These include:
 Biological chemistry. Neurotransmitters are naturally occurring
brain chemicals that carry signals to other parts of your brain and
body. When these chemicals are abnormal or impaired, the
function of nerve receptors and nerve systems change, leading
to depression.
 Hormones. Changes in the body's balance of hormones may be
involved in causing or triggering depression.
 Inherited traits. Depression is more common in people whose
blood relatives also have the condition.
 Early childhood trauma. Traumatic events during childhood,
such as physical or emotional abuse, or loss of a parent, may
cause changes in the brain that make a person more susceptible
to depression.
 Learned patterns of negative thinking. Teen depression may
be linked to learning to feel helpless — rather than learning to
feel capable of finding solutions for life's challenges

8. Recognizing Adolescent
Depression
 Adolescent depression is increasing at an alarming rate. Depression can take
several forms, including bipolar disorder (formally called manic-depression), which
is a condition that alternates between periods of euphoria and depression.
 These symptoms may indicate depression, particularly when they last for more than
two weeks:
 Poor performance in school
 Withdrawal from friends and activities
 Sadness and hopelessness
 Lack of enthusiasm, energy or motivation
 Anger and rage Restlessness and agitation
 Overreaction to criticism
 Feelings of being unable to satisfy ideals
 Poor self-esteem or guilt
 Indecision, lack of concentration or forgetfulness
 Changes in eating or sleeping patterns
 Substance abuse
 Problems with authority

9. What happens when depression is
not treated
Teens who are depressed are at high risk to develop many serious
problems.
Behaviour problems at home: due to defiance, withdrawal from family
members or an ongoing negative attitude.
Problems competing in sports: due to low energy, irritability, lack of
confidence or difficulties getting along with peers.
Declining school performance: caused by difficulties concentrating, lack
of interest or trouble with authority figures.
Social issues: due to feelings of worthlessness or needing frequent
validation or attention from others.
Drug abuse: using drugs in an effort to self-medicate, self-treat sleeping
difficulties or ambivalence about staying alive.
Reckless behaviour: to include driving carelessly, having unprotected sex
or involvement in illegal activities. The consequences of these actions
can often be devastating as well as life-altering.

10. Self-harm behaviours: hurting oneself deliberately
in an attempt to try to express or control inner
pain.
Continued depression: recurring episodes of
depression are likely to occur as the teen gets
older.
Violence towards others: self-loathing can
develop into directing anger and rage onto others.
This acting out behaviour will often have
consequences that lead the teen to more
depressive episodes.
Suicide threats or attempts: depressed
teens have a high rate of suicide due to
experiencing significant emotional pain that they

11. What are the symptoms of teen
depression?
 Signs of depression in adolescents:
 Apathy
 Complaints of pains, including headaches, stomach aches,
low back pain, or fatigue
 Difficulty concentrating
 Difficulty making decisions
 Excessive or inappropriate guilt
 Irresponsible behaviour -- for example, forgetting obligations, being
late for classes, skipping school
 Loss of interest in food or compulsive overeating that results
in rapid weight loss or gain
 Memory loss
 Preoccupation with death and dying
 Rebellious behaviour

12.  Loss of interest or pleasure in normal activities
 Loss of interest in, or conflict with, family and friends
 Low self-esteem
 Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
 Fixation on past failures or exaggerated self-blame or self-criticism
 Extreme sensitivity to rejection or failure, and the need for excessive
reassurance
 Trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions and remembering
things
 Ongoing sense that life and the future are grim and bleak
 Frequent thoughts of death, dying or suicide
 Sadness, anxiety, or a feeling of hopelessness
 Staying awake at night and sleeping during the day
 Sudden drop in grades
 Use of alcohol or drugs and promiscuous sexual activity
 Withdrawal from friends

13. Risk factors
• Many factors increase the risk of developing or triggering teen
depression, including:
• Having issues that negatively impact self-esteem, such as
obesity, peer problems, long-term bullying or academic
problems
• Having been the victim or witness of violence, such as physical
or sexual abuse
• Having other conditions, such as bipolar disorder, an anxiety
disorder, a personality disorder, anorexia or bulimia
• Having a learning disability or attention-deficit/hyperactivity
disorder
• Having ongoing pain or a chronic physical illness such as
cancer, diabetes or asthma
• Having a physical disability
• Having certain personality traits, such as low self-esteem or

14.  Family history and issues with family or others
may also increase your teenager's risk of
depression, such as:
 Having a parent, grandparent or other blood
relative with depression, bipolar disorder or
alcoholism
 Having a family member who committed
suicide
 Having a dysfunctional family and conflict
 Having experienced recent stressful life
events, such as parental divorce, parental
military service or the death of a loved one

15. Complications
 Untreated depression can result in emotional,
behavioural and health problems that affect every
area of your teenager's life. Complications related to
teen depression may include, for example:
 Alcohol and drug abuse
 Academic problems
 Family conflicts and relationship difficulties
 Involvement with the juvenile justice system
 Suicide

16. Treating Adolescent Depression
 Depression is serious and, if left untreated, can worsen to the point of
becoming life-threatening. If depressed teens refuse treatment, it may
be necessary for family members or other concerned adults to seek
professional advice.
 Therapy can help teens understand why they are depressed and learn
how to cope with stressful situations. Depending on the situation,
treatment may consist of individual, group or family counselling.
Medications that can be prescribed by a psychiatrist may be necessary
to help teens feel better.
 Some of the most common and effective ways to treat depression in
adolescents are:
 Psychotherapy provides teens an opportunity to explore events and
feelings that are painful or troubling to them. Psychotherapy also
teaches them coping skills.
 Cognitive-behavioural therapy helps teens change negative patterns
of thinking and behaving.
 Interpersonal therapy focuses on how to develop healthier
relationships at home and at school.
 Medication relieves some symptoms of depression and is often
prescribed along with therapy.

17. SUICIDE
 Suicidal behaviour is defined as a preoccupation
or act that is focused on causing one's own death
voluntarily. It is also known as 'intent' or 'ideation'
or the behaviour or gesture. Suicidal ideation
refers to thoughts of suicide or wanting to take
one's own life. Suicidal behaviour refers to
actions taken by one who is considering or
preparing to cause his or her own death. Suicide
attempt or gesture usually refers to an act
focused on causing one's own death that is
unsuccessful in causing death. Suicide refers to
having intentionally caused one's own death.

18. What causes adolescents to
attempt suicide?
 Adolescence is a stressful developmental period filled
with major changes — body changes, changes in
thoughts, and changes in feelings. Strong feelings of
stress, confusion, fear, and uncertainty, as well as
pressure to succeed, and the ability to think about things
in new ways, influence a teenager's problem-solving
and decision making abilities.
 For some teenagers, normal developmental changes,
when compounded by other events or changes in their
families, such as divorce or moving to a new community,
changes in friendships, difficulties in school, or other
losses, can be very upsetting and can become
overwhelming. Problems may appear too difficult or
embarrassing to overcome. For some, suicide may
seem like a solution.

19.  Apart from the normal pressures of teen life, specific
circumstances can contribute to an adolescent's
consideration of suicide. It's especially difficult when
adolescents are confronted with problems that are out of
their control, such as:
 divorce
 a new family formation (e.g., step-parents and step-
siblings)
 moving to a different community
 physical or sexual abuse
 emotional neglect
 exposure to domestic violence
 alcoholism in the home
 substance abuse

20. What is known about teen
suicide?
 Suicide is the third leading cause of death in 15 to
24 year olds. According to the National Institute of
Mental Health, reliable scientific research has found
the following:
 There are 25 attempted suicides to one completed
suicide — with the ratio even higher in youth.
 The strongest risk factors for attempted suicide in
youth are depression, substance abuse, and
aggressive or disruptive behaviours.
 Males are 4 times more likely to die from suicide
than females.
 Females are more likely to attempt suicide than
males.
 Firearms are used in over half of youth suicides.

21. What are the risk factors for
suicide?
 Suicide risk factors vary with age, gender, and cultural
and social influences and may change over time. Risk
factors for suicide frequently occur in combination with
each other. The following are some suicide risk factors
that may be present:
 Impulsive behaviours
 Undesirable life events or recent losses (for example,
death or parental divorce)
 Family history of mental or substance abuse disorder
 Family history of suicide
 Family violence, including physical, sexual, or verbal or
emotional abuse
 Prior suicide attempt
 Firearm in the home
 Exposure to the suicidal behaviour of others, including
family, peers, in the news, or in fiction stories

22. Warning signs of suicidal feelings
Many of the warning signs of possible suicidal feelings are also symptoms of
depression.
 Changes in eating and sleep habits
 Loss of interest in usual activities
 Withdrawal from friends and family members
 Acting out behaviours and running away
 Alcohol and drug use
 Neglect of personal appearance
 Unnecessary risk-taking
 Preoccupation with death and dying
 Increased physical complaints frequently associated with emotional distress,
such as stomach-aches, headaches, and fatigue
 Loss of interest in school or schoolwork
 Feelings of boredom
 Difficulty concentrating
 Feelings of wanting to die
 Lack of response to praise

23. Treatment
 Specific treatment for suicidal feelings and behaviours are:
 Your teen's age, overall health, and medical history
 Extent of your teen's symptoms
 Seriousness of the attempt
 Your teen's tolerance for specific medications or therapies
 Expectations regarding future suicide risk
 As your child is a minor, you will be involved in all decisions regarding
treatment.
 Any adolescent who has attempted suicide requires an initial physical
evaluation to rule out life-threatening medical situations followed by
psychiatric evaluation and treatment until he or she is psychiatrically
stable. Mental health treatment for suicidal feelings, thoughts, or
behaviours begins with detailed evaluation of events in the adolescent's
life during the 2 to 3 days preceding the suicidal behaviours. A
comprehensive evaluation of the adolescent and family contributes to
decisions regarding treatment needs. Treatment recommendations may
include individual therapy for the adolescent, family therapy, and, when
necessary, extended hospitalization to provide the adolescent a

24. Advice for Parents
 Unconditional love
 Positive attitude
 Rest and recreational activities
 Good nutritional habits
 Autonomy and space
 Support and guidance
 Affirmation and praise
 Empathetic listener

25. •THANK YOU!!!!