SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
OF YOUTH DEPRESSION
(usually seen every day for at least 2 weeks)
The parents of adolescent suicide victims are often
unaware of warning signs such as depression and
substance abuse and significantly underestimated the
seriousness of their child's major depression until
it is too late. It is important to take the subject
of suicide seriously. It doesn't seem right that a
teen-ager - who has lived for such a short time -
would choose to die. But adolescents who can't get
over their depression sometimes do kill themselves.
If your teen-ager has been depressed, you should
look closely for signs that he or she might be
thinking of suicide:
- Sadness (with
or without crying)
- Anxiety
- Lack of
energy and/or motivation
- Temper
outbursts and/or violent episodes
- Easily
irritated
- Sleeping too
little or too much
- Little or no
appetite, or eating too often
- Withdrawal
from friends and family
- Loss of
interest in activities usually enjoyed
(including school activities)
- Feelings of
fear (even if there is no conscious reason)
- Feelings of
extreme guilt or shame
- Inability to
concentrate
- Poor memory
- Increased use
of alcohol or drugs
- Worsening
grades
- Skipping
school or classes
- Self-critical
remarks
- Feelings of
helplessness to change a situation*
- Feelings that
things will never get better*
- Comment(s)
about death or dying*
- Writing,
drawing, or listening to music about
hopelessness, guns, or death*
- Threatening
suicide (even in a joking manner)*
When 4 or more of
the above are observed or suspected for more than 2
weeks, an assessment by a mental health professional
is necessary.
*Any time one or more of the last 5 signs or
symptoms are seen or suspected, immediate attention
is necessary!
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If you suspect that your child is suffering from
depression, it is important to document their
behavior. This information can then be passed on to
a physician or therapist, who will be better able to
determine your child's emotional health. If your
child does experience any of the possible signs
(listed below), note a description of when, how long
and examples of this behavior.
The following symptoms are considered possible signs
of depression:
|
Does
your child express any of the following
emotions:
|
Does
your child complain about any physical
changes:
-
upset stomach
-
change in appetite and/or body
weight
-
lethargic
-
sleeplessness
-
headaches
-
joint or back pain
|
| |
Is
your child experiencing any behavioral
problems:
-
easily irritated
-
uncooperative
-
disagreeable
-
avoiding social interaction
-
avoiding or skipping school
-
quitting sports, hobbies or
organizations
-
abusing drugs and/or alcohol
|
Is
your child demonstrating cognitive
difficulties with:
-
focusing
-
finishing tasks
-
performing consistently in school
-
making decisions
|
It is
possible to have the symptoms of depression, but not
be suicidal. It is always important to watch for
warining signs of suicide though, just in case your
child or friend might be having suicidal thoughts.
Have you noticed any of these warning signs of
suicide:
-
Talking, reading, or writing about
suicide or death.
-
Talking about feeling worthless or
helpless.
-
Saying things like:
— "I'm going to kill myself,"
— "I wish I were dead," or
— "I shouldn't have been born."
-
Visiting or calling people to say
goodbye.
|
-
Giving things away or returning borrowed
items.
-
Organizing or cleaning bedroom "for the
last time."
-
Self-destructive behavior "risk-taking"
behaviors, like self-cutting.
-
Obsessed with death, violence and guns
or knives.
-
Previous suicidal thoughts or suicide
attempts.
|
The National
Mental Health Association (NMHA) has available a
checklist to help you assess and document your
child's feelings and behavior. This information can
provide your physician or therapist with a fairly
good picture of your child's emotional state. The
checklist (in pdf format) can be viewed at:
Checklist.
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References:
American Academy of Pediatrics
http://www.aap.org/advocacy/childhealthmonth/prevteensuicide.htm
American Association of Suicidology
http://www.suicidology.org/
SAVE - Suicide Awareness Voices of Education
http://www.save.org/symptoms.html
Befrienders International
http://www.befrienders.org/suicide/warning.htm
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI)
http://www.nmha.org/children/green/index.cfm
Bexar County Community Health Collaborative
http://www.healthcollaborative.net/youthdep/missionarticle.html
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