Workshop:�Understanding�Depression

Marshall Kendrick Middle School

Agenda

Introductions and Behavior changes

Understanding Depression

Depression in the Classroom

Q and A

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3

4

2

Teachers and Students

Definition, Signs, Treatments, etc.

Opportunity for teachers to ask questions and exit ticket

Developmental

Introductions

1

Ms. Carwile

Counselor in Training

Marshall Kendrick Middle School

Behavior Changes

• Second semester is when teachers and staff will see an increase in behavior change!
• Behavior changes can be caused due to the age group at MKMS. This age group begins to go through a developmental change of entering early adolescence.
• One major mental health concern during this developmental change can be depression.

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Early Adolescence

• Feel an increased need of privacy.
• Begin to explore how to be more independent specifically from family but want to spend more time with peers.
• May want to push boundaries and react strongly when limits are enforced.
• Begin to be self-conscious about their appearance and apprehensive about being judged by their peers (self-esteem).
• This area of development focuses on identity and asking the important question, “Who am I?”
• Undeveloped frontal lobe – controls executive functions. This can cause more risk-taking behaviors, lapse in judgement, and mood swings.

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Understanding Depression

2

Definition, Signs, Treatments, Statistics, Coping etc.

Definition of Depression

• Depression is a mood disorder that can affect the way you feel, the way you think and how you act by bringing on feelings of sadness and hopelessness over a long period of time.
• The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) defines depression as Major Depressive Disorder by the presence of at least one major depressive episode (APA, 2022).
• The essential feature of a major depressive episode is a period lasting at least 2 weeks during which there is either depressed mood or the loss of interest or pleasure in all or nearly all activities for most of the day nearly everyday (APA, 2022).

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Symptoms of Depression

• Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain or decrease or increase in appetite nearly everyday. The DSM-5 notes that in children, consider failure to make expected weight gain (APA, 2022).
• Insomnia (no sleep) or hypersomnia (excessive sleep) nearly everyday (APA, 2022).
• Fatigue or loss of energy nearly everyday (APA, 2022).
• Depressed mood most of the day, nearly everyday with feelings of sad, empty, hopeless and The DSM-5 notes that in children and adolescents, can be irritable mood (APA, 2022).
• Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all activities most of the day, nearly every day (APA, 2022).
• Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt (APA, 2022).
• The inability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness nearly everyday (APA, 2022).
• Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide (APA, 2022).

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• An individual experiencing a major depressive episode will exhibit five or more of the following symptoms during the same 2-week period with one being depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure (APA, 2022).

Stats about Depression Population Affected

• Depression is associated with high mortality specifically connected to suicide (APA, 2022).
• By the time youths are 18, the cumulative probability of having an episode of depression is 20% (Researchers, 2019).
• Depressive symptoms of different kinds can be found in approximately 25% of adolescents (Jelinek et al., 2021).

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• Depression has been a higher prevalence in females, an effect that peaks in adolescence (APA, 2022).
• Depression appears to be higher among African Americans and Caribbean Blacks compared to Latinx Whites (APA, 2022).
• Girls tend to experience more disturbances in appetite and sleep and boys' greater frequencies in alcohol or drug use, risk taking, poor impulse control (APA, 2022).

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Treatments for Depression

• CBT - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy that focuses on thoughts and behaviors in depression (Watson & Beshai, 2020).

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• Medication like anti-depressants designed to reduce symptoms of depression (Watson & Beshai, 2020).

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Coping Mechanisms

Unhealthy Coping Strategies Healthy Coping Strategies

• Suicidal thoughts
• Lashing out
• Isolation
• Increase confrontation
• Alcohol and drug abuse
• Self-harm
• Overeating or not eating at all

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• Exercise
• Therapy
• Talking to someone you trust
• Journaling
• Coloring
• Meditation
• Listening to music

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Depression in the Classroom

3

Signs and What to do

Students: What to Look For and What to Do

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Common Signs:

• Personality change
• Mood change
• Change in friends
• No eye contact
• Decrease in grades
• Increase in absences
• Inappropriate drawings or phrases
• Change in dress code (sometimes)
• Head frequently down
• Decrease or Increase of appetite
• Isolation from friends

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• Teachers, reach out to the parent specifically in connection to increase absences and decrease grades that way communication is already been established and documented.
• If a teacher observes these common signs over an extended period, it is recommended to reach out to the grade level counselor so they can reach out, intervene, and provide resources, if needed.

(S. Pena, personal communication, June 21, 2022).

Teachers: If You’re Experiencing Symptoms

Teacher’s mental health is important too and the counselors are here to help you all as well! If you ever feel like you are experiencing any depressive symptoms, please reach out to your counselors so that we can provide resources and support!

Teachers

4

Q and A

Exit Ticket

Thanks!

Feel free to contact me anytime!

kcarwile@pasadenaisd.org

CREDITS: This presentation template was created by Slidesgo, including icons by Flaticon, infographics & images by Freepik

References

American Psychiatric Association . (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: Dsm-5-Tr (Fifth).

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Jelínek, M., Květon, P., Burešová, I., & Klimusová, H. (2021). Measuring depression in adolescence: Evaluation of a hierarchical factor model of the Children’s Depression Inventory and measurement invariance across boys and girls. PLoS ONE, 16(4), 1–17. https://doi-org.ezproxy.stthom.edu/10.1371/journal.pone.0249943

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Researchers calculate tool for measuring depression change in children and teens. (2019). The Brown University Child & Adolescent Psychopharmacology Update, 21(4), 1–3. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpu.30383

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Watson, L. M., & Beshai, S. (2021). Causal explanations of depression on perceptions of and likelihood to choose cognitive behavioural therapy and antidepressant medications as depression treatments. Psychology & Psychotherapy: Theory, Research & Practice, 94(2), 201–216. https://doi-org.ezproxy.stthom.edu/10.1111/papt.12300

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