Teen Mental Health

It is a universal fact of life that there are sometimes things to worry about. People worry about personal things in their lives. People fall in love with someone who doesn't love them back. People worry about things in the world.

Everyone has moods and times when they feel depressed. How do you know if you are depressed or if you are just feeling bummed out? Here are four things to consider:

• How long have you felt sad, moody or angry?
• How severe is it? Do you feel hopeless of helpless?
• Has your daily routine been affected?
• Are you persistently sad and you don't know why?

Depression is an illness, just like asthma, diabetes or the flu. It may be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. Depression may also be the result of specific situations such as, the death of someone close, moving, changing schools, losing a friend, breaking up with a girlfriend or boyfriend, parents' divorce, or other family difficulties. These situations may not lead to depression, but when they do, depression makes it more difficult to bounce back.

The SAVE Organization has developed this list of symptoms of depression. If you have been experiencing some of these signs for more than two weeks, you may be depressed:

• Feeling sad, empty or numb.
• Feeling tired all the time.
• Feeling hopeless, helpless or worthless.
• Feeling angry or moody, excessive crying.
• Sleeping more or less than usual.
• Avoiding friends; feeling alone when with friends.
• Loss of interest in things that used to be fun.
• Difficulty concentrating or remembering.
• Eating less or eating more than usual.
• Recurring headaches, backaches or stomachaches.
• Alcohol or drug use.
• Thinking about, planning or attempting suicide.

Depression can be treated and relieved. In the early stages, teens can be helped by their families. In some cases, counselors and therapists may be needed to help the teen and the teen's family. A seriously depressed teen may require medication and intensive therapy. If the depression is extreme, hospitalization may be required to prevent the teen from self-harm or from harming others. Suicide or suicide attempts may arise from untreated depression. Suicide may also be carried out by a teen who is not actually depressed but who feels sad a lot or most of the time.

Depression is an illness that can be successfully treated. Here are the most important steps to take:

• Talk to a trusted adult. This can be a parent or guardian. If you can't talk to your parent or guardian, then go to another adult - for example, a relative, neighbor, someone at your place of worship, a coach, a counselor or someone else at school, a friend's parent. If you feel the adult you go to is not listening or does not understand, go to someone else.
• Get help from a mental health professional or call a 24 hour counseling line. If you see or talk to a therapist who you don't like, find another one.
• Get a complete physical to see if there is a medical reason that is causing you to feel depressed.

Here are some other things you can do:

• Be with friends. Tell your friends how you are feeling.
• If you're a loner, ask your school counselor to help you find a support group. Consider volunteering, taking up a hobby, or joining a sport or club.
• Read. Keep a diary. Write a poem.
• Be nice to yourself. Eat and dress well. Take long baths. Walk.
• Exercise. Sweat. Breathe deeply.
• Try meditation, yoga, or another positive method of relieving stress.
• Find out more about your religion.

The same things that would help you if you were depressed will also help your friend.

• Talk to your friend, listen, let them know you understand, let them know you care.
• Encourage your friend to talk to their parent or to another trusted adult.
• Tell them to go to their school counselor and ask if they want you to be there with them.
• Encourage them to get help from a mental health professional and offer to go along.

If your friend says or does anything that makes you even suspect they are suicidal, this is a crisis requiring immediate help. Do not think you can handle this by yourself. You must get help for your friend.

Teens who kill themselves as a result of sadness, anger or depression felt that there wasn't any other way out. It was impossible for them to believe that things could change, that they had options, that their problems had solutions. Sometimes, a teen will commit suicide or make a suicide attempt to try to get even, hurt someone, or say, "Screw you".

A suicidal teen requires immediate professional help. They may also require the help of medication. Getting the right kind of help will lift a suicidal teen out of their dark hole of depression, anger or sadness so they can see their life in a better light and realize there are solutions for their problems. With professional help, a person who is suicidal can move from hopelessness to hope.

The Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program lists these warning signs of suicide:

• Sudden change in personality.
• Giving away possessions.
• Previous suicide attempt.
• Use of drugs and/or alcohol.
• Depression, lack of self-esteem.
• Withdrawal from people, especially close friends, family and/or favorite activities.
• Change in eating and sleeping patterns.
• Chronic pain.
• Restlessness and inability to concentrate.

Things look hopeless when you are extremely depressed or sad. When you get professional help, you will learn to see your problems in a new light. You will see that there are solutions. You will become hopeful that life can have pleasure and meaning again.

If you are thinking of killing yourself, you must get help immediately. You must tell someone you are thinking of killing yourself. Take one or more of these steps:

• Tell your parent. If you can't tell your parent, tell an adult who you trust: relative, neighbor, someone at your place of worship, a counselor or someone else at school, a coach, a friend's parent. If they don't take you seriously, tell someone else.
• Call a 24-hour crisis counseling line.
• Go to a mental health clinic or hospital emergency room.
• Call 911.

If you suspect or become aware that your friend is suicidal, it is very important:

• To take it seriously.
• To consider it an emergency.
• To stay with your friend and get them help.
• To not try and handle it alone with your friend.

The SAVE Organization has developed the STAY - LISTEN - GET HELP method for teens to know how to help a friend who is suicidal.

• STAY with the person - you are their lifeline.
• LISTEN really listen - take them seriously.
• GET HELP - call for help immediately. Do not wait - tell your friend's parent. If your friend's parent is not available, tell your parent or another trusted adult immediately. If you have promised your friend not to tell anyone, break your promise. It would be far worse to live with knowing your friend committed suicide than to live with breaking a promise you made.

No matter what happens to you in life, no matter what ups and downs life may bring, you have all the health and well-being inside you that you will ever need, it can never be destroyed, and it contains the wisdom and common sense to guide you through life. (George Pransky, 1998)

It is important to talk to your parent or guardian if you are depressed or suicidal. If that is difficult, other people who can help are relatives, neighbors, teachers, coaches, or other adults at school, and leaders at your place of worship. Find someone who will listen to you, support you and assist you in getting professional help. You should also see your family doctor, since depression could be caused by a medical problem. The following information about good existing mental health services for youth in Washington County was put together by Mike Huntley, from Youth Service Bureau:

The Forest Lake Youth Service Bureau is available for the Northern part of our County; their phone number is 651-464-3685.

In Central and Southern Washington County (Stillwater, Woodbury, and Cottage Grove), the Youth Service Bureau, Inc. is available. Their phone number is 651-439-8800 or 651-458-5224.

FamilyMeans also offers mental health services in the center and southern sections of the county. Their phone number is 651-439-4840.

Human Services, Inc, based in Oakdale, has services available throughout the County in satellite offices. Their main number is 651-777-5222. HSI also operates a Crisis Line that is available 24 hours a day at 651-777-4455.

Several private practitioners exist in our communities who can offer mental health services to youth as well.

Mental health service providers may or may not specialize in working with youth. Ask questions about their services when you call them. Some providers have sliding-fee rates for services or other subsidized services that may be available.

School staff and family doctors are aware of many mental health service providers and can help teens and families to get connected to mental health services. When contacting any mental health agency for service, please indicate if the situation is an urgent crisis, so that you are given a priority appointment.

A pamphlet developed by a group of Parents in Forest Lake, SAVE (Suicide Awareness Voices of Education) and Washington County Public Health to educate parents about the signs/symptoms of depression and suicide and local resources in the County. For copies call 651-430-6655.

In April, 2001, 1,875 Washington County students in grades 7 to 12 shared their thoughts about teen depression and suicide in a survey conducted by the Washington County Department of Public Health and Environment. To see a brief summary of the survey results, click here.

A group of teens from Washington County schools have been working with the Washington County Department of Public Health and Environment in 2001 and 2002 to develop educational resources for teens that need information about teen depression and suicide. These teens have made a video about depression and have helped to create this website. If you would like to be involved too, call: 651-430-6655. Ask for the Adolescent Health Coordinator.

Specifically For Teens: 

• Gordon, Ph.D., Sol. When Living Hurts. Dell Publishing Co., New York, 1988.
• Murphy, M.D., James M. Coping with Teen Suicide. Rosen Publishing Group., Inc., 1999.
• Cobain, Bev. When Nothing Matters Anymore: A Survival Guide for Depressed Teens.
• Hamilton, DeWitt. Sad Days, Glad Days (a storybook for children about adult depression)
• Irwin, Cait. Depression - Challenge the Beast Within Yourself and Win.

Written For Adults:

• Joan, Polly. Preventing Teenage Suicide - The Living Alternative Handbook. Human Sciences Press, Inc., New York, 1986. ("Loneliness", p.8; "Depression", p.9; "Alone", p.11.)
• Silverstein, Herma. Teenage Depression. Franklin Watts, New York,1990.
• Stewart, Gail B. Teens and Depression. Lucent Books, Inc., San Diego, 1998.
• Wolff, Lisa. Teen Depression - Teen Issues. Lucent Books, Inc., San Diego, 1999.
• Oster, PH.D., Gerald and Sara Montgomery, MSW. Helping Your Depressed Teenager - A Guide for Parents and Caregivers.
• Kearns, MD, Lawrence. Helping Your Depressed Child - A Reassuring Guide to the Causes and Treatments of Childhood and Adolescent Depression.
• Slaby, MD, Andrew and Lili Garfinkel. No One Saw My Pain - Why Teens Kill Themselves.