Recognizing the Signs of Depression in a School Setting
In a school setting, identifying the signs and symptoms of depression is crucial to support students who may be struggling with their mental health. Depression can affect anyone, including children and adolescents, and can affect students’ academic performance and overall well-being.
Here are some key signs and symptoms to watch out for:
Persistent Sadness
Students with depression often exhibit sadness, emptiness, and hopelessness that last most of the days for at least two weeks.
Examples of signs of sadness include comments such as “life will never be the same again” or “no one cares about me” and behaviors such as crying.
Loss of interest
A marked loss of interest in activities once enjoyed, such as hobbies or social relationships, is a common symptom of depression. For example, a student might not enjoy a certain recess activity or may not spend as much time with friends as before.
Academic Decline: A sudden drop in academic performance or a significant change in study habits can be a sign of depression. Students who are depressed may struggle to concentrate or complete assignments. Children with depression may have frequent absences from school due to a lack of motivation, the physical symptoms of depression (e.g. fatigue), or due to emotional distress.
Social Withdrawal: Depressed students may isolate themselves from their peers and prefer solitude to social interactions. They may spend their recess or lunch breaks alone.
Changes in Appetite: Significant changes in appetite, such as overeating or a loss of interest in food, may occur in depressed children. This may lead to noticeable weight gain or weight loss over a short period of time.
Irritability: While depression is often associated with sadness, it can also manifest as irritability, anger, or mood swings in children and adolescents. Examples of irritability include having a short temper, an increased sensitivity to rejection, or being more impatient.
Physical Complaints: Frequent complaints of headaches, stomach-aches, or other physical symptoms without a clear medical cause can sometimes be signs of underlying depression. Students may request to use the restroom more often or have increased requests to see the school nurse.
Lack of Energy
Depression may present as a notable decrease in energy levels, leading to fatigue, difficulty getting out of bed, or a constant feeling of being tired.
Self-Harm or Suicidal Thoughts
More serious signs of depression include self-harming behaviors or expressing thoughts of self-harm or suicide. Warning signs of self-harming behaviors include wearing long-sleeved shirts or long pants even in hot temperatures, visible scarring, fresh wounds of cuts, bruises, burns, and explaining away frequent injuries as “just an accident”.
Warning signs of suicidal ideation include talking about death more often, reporting feeling as though the student is a burden to others, or displaying increased risky behavior such as drug or alcohol use. These signs require immediate attention and intervention.
For more information on the signs of suicidal thoughts, visit https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/warning-signs-of-suicide.
How To Help: Next Steps
Teachers, school counselors, and staff members play a vital role in identifying the signs of depression in our students. Staff should strive to maintain open communication with students, creating an environment where students feel safe to discuss their emotions and concerns.
When signs of depression are observed, it's crucial to connect the student with appropriate mental health resources (such as with a school counselor, mental health therapist, psychologist and/or psychiatrist), involve their parents or guardians, and work together to develop a supportive plan tailored to the student's needs. Early intervention and support can make a difference in a student's ability to manage and recover from depression, ultimately fostering a healthier and more productive school experience for the student.
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