Coping with Depression in Young People

Depressive disorders can produce dramatic and frightening changes in young peoples’ behaviour, but while parents may suspect something is wrong, they are often at a loss to know what. This book shows parents how to tell the difference between the ordinary ups and downs and true depression, helping them better understand clinical warning signs and the various approaches to treatment. Dealing sensitively with how depression sometimes manifests itself—self-harm, alcohol and drug abuse, and suicide attempts—the book offers parents practical guidance on how they can reach out to their children and find professional assistance.

About the authors ix

Preface xi

Acknowledgements xiii

1 What is depression? 1

What depression feels like 7

How common is depression in young people? 8

Causes of depression 10

Is depression in young people more common now than in the past? 12

What happens to young people with depression? 12

2 How to recognise depression in young people 15

Which young people are most likely to get depressed? 15

Changes in mood and behaviour 16

3 Depression in young people who already have difficulties 23

Learning difficulties 24

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) 25

Conduct problems 30

Asperger’s syndrome 31

Conclusion 36

4 Could it be due to something else? 39

Is it due to alcohol? 40

Could it be due to drugs? 41

A serious physical illness 42

Sexual abuse 43

Schizophrenia 44

Eating disorders 46

Bipolar affective disorder (manic depressive disorder) 47

5 Getting help 51

Talking to others who know your child 52

Help within the family 52

Finding out what help is available 53

Counselling 54

Child and adolescent mental health services 55

Communicating with your teenager about the need for further help 56

Approaching your depressed child 58

6 Treatment of depression 63

Multiple approaches 64

Therapeutic help for the young person 64

Parent support 66

Family therapy 67

Medication 69

Hospitalisation 71

Day treatment programmes 72

How long does it take? 75

7 What can parents do? 77

Supporting your teenager 77

Dealing with discipline and conflict 84

Keeping yourself going 90

Helping your other children to cope 91

Tackling family problems 92

Conflicting advice from family members/friends 93

What parents can’t do 94

8 Suicide and self-harm 97

Some myths about suicide 98

Are there warning signs? 98

What to do if you suspect your young person is suicidal 99

Coping with suicide attempts 100

Dealing with discipline after a suicide attempt 101

Dealing with self-cutting behaviour 104

Suicide and alcohol 105

9 Dealing with common problems 107

Depression and school 107

Depression and exams 108

He won’t go for help 110

Sleep problems 111

Anger and aggression 112

Depression and bullying 113

10 Learning from young people who have recovered from depression 115

The Working Things Out study 116

What it felt like when they were depressed 118

What they thought had caused them to feel the way they did 121

What they thought had helped them to get through their difficult times 123

Conclusion 129

Interactive CD-ROM 130

11 Depression – what does the future hold? 131

The statistics 132

‘Good effects’ of depression? 133

The brain and depression – current research 134

The future and your child 135

Resources 137

Index 143

"…a guide for parents, a book long overdue and one which will be of enormous help…is especially valuable…" (Familyonwards.com, 19 February 2004)

"...concise ...useful to anyone working with children and young people experiencing depression..." (Child Right, May 2004)

“The strength of the book lies in it accessible style and numerous practical suggestions.” (Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Vol.10, No.2, May 2005)

Carol Fitzpatrick and John Sharry, both experts in this field, deal with issues most parents find particularly worrying, such as drug and alcohol use, suicide and self-harm, and other mental health problems. Parents reading this book will find guidance on what help and treatments are available for their child, as well as what they can do themselves to help the whole family cope.

Knowing how to deal with a teenager in emotional turmoil is a daunting task for any parent.

Coping with Depression in Young People describes the normal steps parents go through in coming to terms with depression in thir children, from first noticing something is wrong, to accessing the best professional treatment, to surviving what can be a very emotional time for the whole family.

'This guide tells parents in plain language what depression is, how to recognize it, and what can be done about it. Clinicians should routinely recommend that parents read this excellent book.'
PROFESSOR ALAN CARR, UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN