School-Based Depression Education and Outreach Collaborations
For Parents
Grouchy, sulky, listless, uncooperative, and reluctant to go to school—these can all be normal behaviors in children and adolescents. But sometimes they can signal something more serious: depression or bipolar disorder. As many as 5% of all adolescents are suffering from serious depression at any one point in time, and approximately 20% of adolescents will experience meaningful symptoms of depression by the time they enter adulthood. We also know that the peak ages of onset are 15–24 for those who develop Major Depressive Disorder.
Fortunately, depression in young people, just like adults, can be diagnosed and treated. Safe and effective treatments are available and almost always include a combination of talk therapy and medication. And the good news is that the earlier in life that depression is diagnosed and treated, the greater the likelihood of achieving remission and reducing severity.
In order to help facilitate this early detection and intervention, the Depression Center has partnered with the Gull Lake Community Schools and the Ann Arbor Public Schools to provide depression awareness and suicide prevention education, training, and support for school personnel.
Over the past 18 months, the Depression Center has conducted training workshops for school counselors, psychologists, social workers, nurses, administrators, and teachers. In the coming year, we hope to include educational activities for parents and students as well. In the meantime, we hope that you as a parent will find the resources on this website to be useful in helping you to better understand depression in adolescents.
If you would like to be added to the Depression Center email list to receive reminders about all Depression Center educational events, please click here to register.
Additional Outside Resources for Parents
American Association of Suicidology
Founded in 1968, this non-profit organization’s goal is to understand and prevent suicide by promoting research, public awareness programs, public education, and training for professionals and volunteers.Families for Depression Awareness
Founded in 2001, this non-profit organization is made up of families who have lost a member to suicide or watched one suffer with depression. Its mission is to help families recognize and cope with depressive disorders in order to heal and prevent suicides.The National Institute of Mental Health
NIMH is the world's largest scientific organization dedicated to research on understanding, treating, and preventing mental disorders, and promoting mental health. One helpful link is "Mental Health Topics" listed under "Heath & Outreach" on NIMH's home page.Teen Depression: A Guide for Parents and Teachers
This web page is provided by HelpGuide.org, established in 1999. It is a good basic guide that offers help on understanding teen depression, recognizing signs and symptoms, dealing with the effects of teen depression, how to aid a depressed teenager, and how to support a teen through treatment. A list of useful references and resources follows at the bottom of the page.Anxiety Disorders in Children and Teens
This web page is from the Anxiety Disorders of America, a national nonprofit organization established in 1980 and dedicated to informing the public about anxiety disorders. Scroll down to see a helpful list of resources about anxiety in children and adolescents.Common Childhood Disorders [PDF]
A brief summary provided by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) of three common mental disorders exhibited by children: depression, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and conduct disorder. A short list of resources is also included.Helping a Friend or Family Member [PDF]
A pamphlet created by the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) on how to help a family member or friend cope with depression or bipolar disorder.Partnering with Your Child's School: A guide for Parents [PDF]
A booklet designed to help parents of children who have been diagnosed with health or mental health care needs to learn about available resources and to develop a partnership with their children’s school.Teen Suicide: Let's Talk Facts About [PDF]
Short, summarizing facts about suicide created by the American Psychiatric Association (APA): signals, statistics, what can be done, and resources.Treatment of Children with Mental Disorders Q&A [PDF]
An informative pamphlet of questions and answers created by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) about the treatment of children with mental disorders. It specifically addresses issues pertaining to medication.What Helps and What Hurts [PDF]
A one-page guideline created by the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) on positive ways to address a person suffering from depression or bipolar disorder.Depression in Children and Teens
This web site is operated by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), a national medical organization founded in 1947. It offers brief, easy-to-read information on the causes of depression in children and adolescents, what can be done to help them, and antidepressant medication. A list of links follows.Bipolar Disorder in Children and Teens
A helpful web page from Palo Alto Medical Foundation on bipolar disorder in children and teenagers focusing on causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and frequently asked questions.Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depression)
A helpful web page by Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center that focuses on various aspects of bipolar disorder in children and adolescents. It differientiates between Bipolar I and Bipolar II.Taking Your Child to a Therapist
An informative web page run by the Nemours Foundations, which was established in 1936 and is dedicated “to improving the health and spirit of children.” Gives reasons why your child should seek therapy, how to find the right therapist, and defines what various therapists do (such as psychiatrists and social workers).
