Teen Health Course 3

Chapter 4: Mental and Emotional Problems

Student Web Activities - Teacher Content

Lesson 1

Answers
  1. Sadness may last a few days, but depression is a real illness that affects your thoughts, emotions, and physical health.


  2. Two types of depression are major depression, and manic depression.


  3. Symptoms affecting physical health include: feeling sluggish or low-energy; not wanting to eat, or wanting to eat all the time; having problems falling asleep or getting up in the morning; having frequent headaches; having stomach pains or lots of pains in other parts of the body.


  4. No, depression is like any other health problem and can be treated and brought under control.


  5. Treatment for depression includes antidepressant drugs, therapy, and exercise.
Additional Resources for Teachers

Below are some Web sites with information on depression and resources for teens who are looking for help. Try having teens do some research on how to respond to a friend who is depressed and then role play some scenarios.

  1. Palo Alto Medical Foundation:
    http://www.pamf.org/teen/life/depression/teendepression.html
  2. Young Women's Health:
    http://www.youngwomenshealth.org/depression.html
  3. Save – Depression Checklist:
    http://www.save.org/depressed/checklist.html
  4. Kids in Crisis:
    http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Bluffs/5400/depression.html
Lesson 2

Answers
  1. Teens who are clinically depressed do not always commit suicide, but they are more at risk.


  2. Some warning signs of suicide to watch for are:


    • Talking, reading, or writing about suicide or death.

    • Talking about feeling worthless or helpless.

    • Saying things like, "I'm going to kill myself," "I wish I were dead," or "I shouldn't have been born."

    • Visiting or calling people to say goodbye.

    • Giving things away or returning borrowed items.

    • Organizing or cleaning bedroom "for the last time."

    • Hurting oneself or purposely putting oneself in danger.

    • Obsessed with death, violence, and guns or knives.

    • Previous suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts.


  3. If you have a friend who is thinking about suicide you should get hhelp right away. Tell a trusted adult, someone at school, your parents or your friend's parents.


  4. If you are thinking about suicide, talk with a parent or guardian, a trusted adult or call your local crisis intervention center immediately.
Additional Resources for Teachers

Below are some Web sites that offer peer counseling. You might want to print out the application forms for becoming a teen counselor and talk to your students about what it would be like to counsel their peers when someone needs help.

  1. Teen Line:
    http://www.teenlineonline.org/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=172
  2. Save:
    http://www.save.org/depressed/checklist.html
  3. 4 Girls:
    http://www.4girls.gov/mind/help.suicide.htm
  4. Save a Friend:
    http://www.nasponline.org/NEAT/savefriend_general.html
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