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INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

 

GET HELP FOR YOUR DEPRESSED OR SUICIDAL CHILD

In addition to the Parent help links offered further below, please also note the HELPLINES section under the FIND HELP tab CLICK HERE. The Helplines section is broken down into help by province.

Some common myths about depression:

 

MYTH: It's normal for teenagers to be moody; Teens don't suffer from "real" depression.
  • FACT - Depression is more than just being moody. And it can affect people at any age, including teenagers.


MYTH: Telling an adult that a friend might be depressed is betraying a trust. If someone wants help, he or she will get it.

  • FACT - Depression, which saps energy and self-esteem, interferes with a person's ability or wish to get help. It is an act of true friendship to share your concerns with an adult who can help. No matter what you "promised" to keep secret, your friend's life is more important than a promise.


MYTH: Talking about depression only makes it worse.

  • FACT - Talking about your feelings to someone who can help, like a psychologist, is the first step towards beating depression.

 

Talking to a close friend can also provide you with the support and encouragement you need to talk to your parents or school counsellor about getting evaluated for depression.

http://psychologyinfo.com/depression/teens.htm

If you have any suspicion that a person may be suicidal, you need to ask him/her directly about those thoughts and feelings, and if they have a plan.

 

Asking will NEVER be enough to push someone to suicide but it MAY be enough to keep someone from suicide.

 

  • You should always assume that talk about death and/or suicide is serious and cause for deep concern, regardless of the context, until proven otherwise.
  • Suicidal thoughts that are accompanied by a specific plan of how the suicide might be accomplished are more ominous than non-specific suicidal thoughts, and always require a quick and serious response.
  • Many people who die by suicide show symptoms of major psychiatric illness in the weeks before their death – usually severe depression.
  • Depression is a temporary and treatable condition that frequently goes untreated or is inadequately treated.
  • Depressed people are often the last to recognize the severity of their own symptoms and may deny it or refuse to be treated.
  • Only a third of all people suffering a depressive illness ever seek treatment, despite evidence that more than two-thirds of all depressed people respond well to brief therapy, correct antidepressant medication or a combination of the two.
  • Get help for yourself and your family members.
  • It is important to involve family members in counseling or support groups. As with a physical disease like diabetes, the family and friends of the person with diabetes need to make adjustments in their lifestyles and live a modified life with that person. Like many illnesses and psychological problems, support for both the person and the family is very important.
  • It is very difficult to live for a prolonged period of time with someone who has serious depression or who is suicidal. The sense of helplessness can become extremely intense. The daily uncertainty, never knowing for sure what is happening with someone, and often a sense of panic about your own helplessness can lead to non action.


Seek counselling for the family from the very beginning to get help with -

1. Understanding the illness that is affecting everyone directly or indirectly;

2. Sorting out ways of communicating and improving upon that;

3. Feelings of helplessness, anger; and

4. Other feelings, such as:

  • SHOCK: "This is not happening."
  • DENIAL: "It was just once." ... "It was an accident."
  • INACTION: "Just as soon as I get the right answer everything will be alright."
  • ANGER: "I’m too worn out to deal with this threat all of the time."
  • AVOIDANCE: "How are you feeling today, sweetie - you don’t feel like killing yourself this morning do you?"
  • GUILT: "Whatever is happening is my fault."
  • FEAR: "What if I say the wrong thing and he/she tries it again."
  • FEELING THAT YOU HAVE TO DO IT ON YOUR OWN: "I’m on my own and I have to fix this.”"
  • MINIMIZING THE RISK: "He/she is just trying to get attention."
  • DISTRACTIONS: "I’ll take him on a vacation and he’ll forget about it."
  • DOUBT: "I don’t have the ability to deal with this."
  • ABANDONMENT: "Someone else can deal with this."
  • SHAME: "What will others think?"

 Helpful sites for parents:

 

Remember.. there are many others like us.. and many who want to help.. through the highs and lows.. you are not alone!


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