The 5 things we wish teachers knew about anxiety disorders, depression and suicide.
PowerPoint Slides (PDF)
Further Reading
Websites
Anxiety and Depression Association of America – Living with Anxiety (Children)
Erika’s Lighthouse – Parent Handbook on Childhood and Adolescent Depression
Getting an Accurate Diagnosis for your Child: 10 Steps for Families
Ten steps families should take to help their mental health service provider make an accurate diagnosis; a resource of the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Students First Project: School and Classroom Strategies – Anxiety
Linked Wellness – Sparx: the Video Game for Depression
It is estimated that 80% of depressed young people don’t receive care, often because the right care is not available or is not easy to access. SPARX is a role-playing game that helps young people recognize and manage their condition. Clinical tests have proven that Playing SPARX is effective in reducing depression. SPARX, The Video Game for Depression, is an award-winning online therapy that treats depression, anxiety and stress.
Psychiatric Times – Infographic: What happens to depressed adolescents?
Films
Free the Mind Documentary; Directed by Phie Ambo
Available on iTunes
Publications
Brunstein Klomek, A., Marrocco, F., Kleinman, M., Schonfeld, I. & Gould, M. (2007). Bullying, depression, and suicidality in adolescents. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 46 (1): 40-49.
“Higher exposures to being victimized or bullying others generally were related to higher risk of depression, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts, yet infrequent involvement in bullying behavior also was related to increased risk of depression and suicidality, particularly among girls.”
Chansky, T. (2014). Freeing your child from anxiety: Powerful, practical solutions to overcome your child’s fears, worries, and phobias. (Rev. ed.). New York: Harmony.
Empfield, M. & Bakalar, N. (2001). Understanding teenage depression: A guide to diagnosis, treatment, and management. New York: Henry Holt and Company.
Addresses Suicide in Chapter 4: pp. 67-95.
Gallagher, M., Prinstein, M.J., Simon, V. & Spirito, A. (2014). Social anxiety symptoms and suicidal ideation in a clinical sample of early adolescents: Examining loneliness and social support as longitudinal mediators. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology 42 (6):871-883.
“Feelings of loneliness may be one mechanism through which adolescent social anxiety increases the risk of suicidal thinking over time.”
Herpertz-Dahlmann, B, Buhren, K. & Remschmidt, H. (2013). Growing up is hard: Mental disorders in adolescence. Deutsches Arzteblatt International 119 (25): 432-440.
“Puberty brings on many biological, mental, and social changes. In this phase of life, the prevalence of serious mental disorders is about 10%.”
Huebner, D. & Matthews, B. (2006). What to do when you worry too much: A kid’s guide to overcoming anxiety. Washington, DC: Magination Press.
Guides children and parents through the cognitive-behavioral techniques most often used in the treatment of anxiety. This interactive self-help book is the complete resource for educating, motivating, and empowering kids to overcome their overgrown worries.
Jenkins, L. & Lonergan, K. (2014). Lessons of a Lac. Frenchs Forest, NSW: Little Steps Publishing.
The story is intended to help children understand their worries and anxieties.
Levine, M. (2008). The price of privilege: How parental pressure and material advantage are creating a generation of disconnected and unhappy kids. New York: Harper Collins.
Manassis, K. (2008). Keys to parenting your anxious child. (2nd ed.) Hauppauge, NY: Barron’s Educational Series.
Miu, A.S. & Yeager, D.S. (2014). Preventing symptoms of depression by teaching adolescents that people can change: Effect of a brief incremental theory of personality intervention at 9-month follow-up. Clinical Psychological Science published online before print September 15, 2014.
A brief self-administered reading and writing activity taught an incremental theory of personality—the belief that people’s socially relevant characteristics have the potential to change. The intervention reduced the incidence of clinically significant levels of self-reported depressive symptoms 9 months post intervention by nearly 40% among adolescents assigned to the intervention condition, compared with control participants.
Oster, G.D. & Montgomery, S.S. (1994). Helping your depressed teenager: A guide for parents and caregivers. [S.l.]: Wiley.
Rapee, R., Wignall, A. & Spence, S. (2008). Helping your anxious child: A step-by-step guide for parents. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications.
This book has been awarded The Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Self-Help Seal of Merit-an award bestowed on outstanding self-help books that are consistent with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) principles and that incorporate scientifically tested strategies for overcoming mental health difficulties.