Description
Book SynopsisDepressive 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 itselfself-harm, alcohol and drug abuse, and suicide attemptsthe book offers parents practical guidance on how they can reach out to their children and find professional assistance.
Trade Review"…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)
Table of ContentsAbout 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
