Depression Awareness & Suicide
Stress and Handling the Ups and Downs of Life
Being a teen is stressful enough! You might feel pressure to get good grades, fit in with a group or even make a sports team. Even home life could stress you out. Everyone has some stress, but too much stress or allowing it to buld up, is unhealthy.
- Talk it out: Vent to a friend or a trusted adult to help you blow off that steam
- Work it out: Lower your stress level by doing things you love
- Write it out: Express your feelings through art or writing
- Laugh it out
- Chill it out: Remember to relax. Do some relaxing breathing exercises. This can help to make you feel more calm. Take in deep breaths and hold them for a few seconds, then let it out.
REMEMBER: Find things that interest you! What you find intersting, might night be the same as your peers. And that is okay! Everyone is different.
Here are some ways to cope, suggested by Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program and others:
- Take one thing at a time
- Try to make new friends
- Try to be open with your feelings
- Spend time with family & friends
- Consider the importance of spirituality in your life
- Get involved with after-school activities
- Volunteer-You have a lot to offer!
- Exercise regularly, eat healthy, get regular sleep- take care of yourself
- Laugh and keep your sense of humor!
- Ignore negative thoughts about yourself!
- Try meditation or yoga
- Seek help if you feel overwhelmed. Needing help is not failing, it's simply being human!
Sometimes despite everyone's best efforts some teens become depressed. Check the "What is Depression?" section below
If you need to talk to someone right away you can call:
- Washington County Mental Health Crisis Line at 651-777-5222 or
- National Hopeline Network 1-800-273-TALK 1-800-273-8255
"Always know that- 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
What is Depression?
Depression is different from a bad mood or the blues because of its prolonged effects on a person. No one can escape a bad day, but if the effects last for more than two weeks, depression may be what's really going on. Here are some signs from Mental Health America.
Several of the following symptoms happening together may indicate depression, especially if they last more than two weeks:
- Poor performance in school
- Withdrawal from friends and activities
- Sadness and hopelessness
- Lack of enthusiasm, energy, or motivation
- Anger and rage
- Overreaction to criticism
- Feelings of being unable to satisfy ideals
- Poor self-esteem or guilt
- Indecision, lack of concentration or forgetfulness
- Restlessness and agitation
- Changes in eating or sleeping patterns
- Substance abuse
- Problems with authority
- Suicidal thoughts or actions.
Teens may experiment with drugs or alcohol or become sexually active to avoid feelings of depression. Teens also may express their depression through hostile, aggressive, risk-taking behavior. But such behaviors only lead to new problems, deeper levels of depression and destroyed relationships with friends, family, law enforcement or school officials.
Remember depression is a term or diagnosis of a particular struggle not a label of who we are.
A few websites of interest:
Reachout.com teen issues, blog, resources
Center for Disease Control youth help guide on depression
Depression is treatable - learn how
First, talk to a trusted adult:
If you or a friend is depressed, the first and most important thing to do is to talk to a trusted adult, such as your parent or guardian, a relative, a neighbor, someone at your place of worship, a teacher or a school counselor. If you talk to an adult and feel they don't understand, talk to another adult.
It is extremely important that depressed teens receive prompt, professional treatment
Depression is serious and, if left untreated, can worsen to the point of becoming life-threatening. If depressed teens refuse treatment, it may be necessary for family members or other concerned adults to seek professional advice.
Therapy can help teens understand why they are depressed and learn how to cope with stressful situations. Depending on the situation, treatment may consist of individual, group or family counseling. Medications that can be prescribed by a psychiatrist may be necessary to help teens feel better.
Second, seek treatment for depression
Here are some common ways to treat depression:
- Seeing a doctor to explain what you are feeling and asking for the best treatment
- Counseling or Psychotherapy provides teens an opportunity to explore events and feelings that are painful or troubling to them. Counseling or psychotherapy also teaches them coping skills and changing negative patterns of thinking and behaving and how to develop healthier relationships at home and school
- Medication relieves some symptoms of depression and is often prescribed along with therapy
Follow up with treatment and seek support
When depressed teens recognize the need for help, they have taken a major step toward recovery. However, remember that few adolescents seek help on their own. They may need encouragement from their friends and support from concerned adults to seek help and follow treatment advice.
Know the Signs of Suicide and What to Do
Suicide is the third leading cause of death in adolescents and the second leading cause of death among college-age youth.
Know the Warning Signs of Suicide
Take Suicide Seriously: Four out of five teens who attempt suicide have given clear warnings. Pay attention to them:
- Suicide threats, direct and indirect
- Obsession with death
- Poems, essays and drawings that refer to death
- Dramatic change in personality or appearance
- Overwhelming sense of guilt, shame or rejection
- Severe drop in school performance
- Giving away belongings
Be Willing To Listen:
- Start by telling the person you are concerned
- Do not attempt to argue someone out of suicide. Let the person know that you care, and that they are not alone
- Seek Professional Help
If you are thinking of killing yourself, you need to get help immediately. Tell someone you are thinking of killing yourself. When you get professional help, you can learn to see your problems in a new light. You'll begin to see that there are solutions. You will become hopeful that life can have pleasure and meaning again.
1. If immediate help is needed call 911 or go to the hospital emergency room.
2.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.
Places to Get Help
In Washington County, there is a 24/7 hour Crisis Line. The phone number is 651-777-5222. That means you can call day or night and someone will assist you if you need to talk or need help figuring out what your next steps are in helping yourself or a friend. Calling locally is your best choice.
If however a person is a danger to self or others call emergency 911. There is also a national emergency number: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Native American youth who need help may want to call the new Native Youth Crisis Hotline 1-877-209-1266.
National Teen Suicide Prevention Public Service Campaign website: ReachOut
The mental health agencies in Washington County that have therapists who counsel youth are:
Youth Service Bureau, Inc.
Stillwater: 651-439-8800
Woodbury: 651-735-9534
Cottage Grove: 651-458-5224
Forest Lake Area Youth Service Bureau
651/464-3685
Family Means Stillwater & Woodbury
651-439-4840
Children's Home Society & Family Services, Maplewood Inc.
651-635--0477
HSI (Human Services, Inc.)
Cottage Grove: 651-458-4116
Forest Lake: 651-251-5220
Oakdale: 651-777-5222
Stillwater: 651-430-2720
TDD: 651-770-6834
OutFront Minnesota
(Gay, Lesbian,Bisexual, Transgender Youth)
612-429-8544
White Bear Lake Area Community Counseling Center
(Serving Mahtomedi, Hugo and Birch Lake Village)
651-429-8544
If you are already seeing a mental health professional you can call your clinic's phone number in a crisis and follow their instructions.
There are also private therapists in Washington County who offer mental health services to youth. Make sure you find someone who has experience working with teens. Talking to school staff and family doctors is a good way to get connected to a therapist or counselor. If your situation is a crisis, make sure you let them know so you can get a priority appointment.
No crisis and just want information? First Call for Help call 211. This is 24 hour information and referral phone line.
