Download introduction - GHS CAFS 09-10

INTRODUCTION
Title:
THE IMPACT DEPRESSION HAS ON TEENS
Core:
COMMUNITY
Strand:
WELL BEING
The aim of the Investigation:
1. TO INVESTIGATE WHAT IS DEPRESSION AND WHAT TYPES EXIST.
2. TO IDENTIFY THE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL EFFECTS
OF THE INDIVIDUAL.
3. TO IDENTIFY THE SUPPORT NETWORKS THAT ARE AVAILABLE
FOR TEENS DIAGNOSED WITH DEPRESSION.
OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS
Depression: A psychiatric disorder characterized by an inability to concentrate,
insomnia, loss of appetite, anhedonia, feelings of extreme sadness, guilt,
helplessness and hopelessness, and thoughts of death. Also called clinical
depression
Mental: Of, relating to, or affected by a disorder of the mind
Self-esteem: Pride in oneself; self-respect
Self-concept: The mental image or perception that one has of oneself
Major Depression: at least two weeks of depressed mood with at least four
symptoms such as sad and lethargic, feeling worthless, pessimism and thoughts
of death.
Dysthymic Disorder: A chronic disturbance of mood lasting at least two years in
adults or one year in children, characterized by recurrent periods of mild
depression and such symptoms as insomnia, tearfulness, and pessimism.
Diagnosed: To distinguish or identify (a disease, for example) by diagnosis.
Disorder: To disturb the normal physical or mental health of; derange.
Euphoria: A feeling of great happiness or wellbeing
Addison’ Disease: A disease caused by partial or total failure of
adrenocortical function, which is characterized by a bronzelike
pigmentation of the skin and mucous membranes, anaemia, weakness,
and low blood pressure.
Amphetamines: Amphetamines are stimulants or "uppers" -- usually made
synthetically in illegal labs. The effects -- stimulation of the central nervous
system; a sense of well-being and higher energy; a release of social inhibitions;
and feelings of cleverness, competence and power -- are similar to the effects of
cocaine but last longer. The term "amphetamine" refers to a large class of
stimulants: amphetamines (black beauties, white bennies), dextroamphetamines
(dexies, beans), and methamphetamines (crank, meth, crystal, speed). They can
be taken orally, injected, smoked, or snorted. Chronic use can cause paranoia,
picking at the skin, auditory and visual hallucinations, and extremely violent and
erratic
Baby blues: Post partum depression - After having a baby, many women have
mood swings. One minute they feel happy, the next minute they start to cry.
They may feel a little depressed, have a hard time concentrating, lose their
appetite or find that they can't sleep well even when the baby is asleep. These
symptoms usually start about 3 to 4 days after delivery and may last several
days.
Biotin deficiency: Rare nutritional disorder caused by a deficiency of vitamin B.
Bipolar disorder: disorder characterised by mood upswings.
Borderline Personality Disorder: personality disorder marked by a longstanding pattern of instability in interpersonal relationships, behaviour, mood,
and self-image that can interfere with social or occupational functioning or cause
extreme emotional distress
Celiac Disease: A chronic nutritional disturbance, usually of young children,
caused by the inability to metabolise gluten, which results in malnutrition, a
distended abdomen, muscle wasting, and the passage of stools having a high fat
content. The disorder can be controlled by a special diet that emphasizes the
elimination of all foods containing gluten
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A syndrome characterized by debilitating
fatigue and a combination of flu like symptoms such as sore throat,
swollen lymph glands, low-grade fever, headaches, and muscle pain or
weakness.
Cocaine: A colourless or white crystalline alkaloid, C17H21NO4, extracted
from coca leaves, sometimes used in medicine as a local anaesthetic
especially for the eyes, nose, or throat and widely used as an illicit drug
for its euphoric and stimulating effects.
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease: A rare, usually fatal disease of the brain,
characterized by progressive dementia and gradual loss of muscle control, that
occurs most often in middle age and is caused by a slow virus. Also called JakobCreutzfeldt disease.
Cushing's syndrome: A syndrome caused by an increased production of ACTH
from a tumour of the adrenal cortex or of the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland,
or by excessive intake of glucocorticoid. It is characterized by obesity and
weakening of the muscles.
Cyclothymic disorder: A chronic mood disturbance generally lasting at
least two years and characterized by mood swings including periods of
hypomania and depression.
Depressive disorders: any of several mood disorders and especially dysthymia
and major depressive disorder that are characterized by prolonged or recurring
symptoms of psychological depression without manic episodes
Ecstasy: Intense joy or delight
Generalized anxiety disorder: An anxiety neurosis or state characterized by an
overall anxious mood lasting at least one month and including such symptoms
as jitteriness, sweating, feelings of catastrophe concerning one's family or self,
and irritability.
Grand mal seizures: A sudden attack or convulsion characterized by
generalized muscle spasms and loss of consciousness; it is recurrent in
grand mal.
Gulf War syndrome: A medical condition affecting some veterans of the
Gulf War, characterized by fatigue, headache, joint pain, skin rashes,
nausea, dizziness, and respiratory disorders, and attributed to reactions to
prophylactic drugs and vaccines, infectious diseases, or exposure to
pesticides and other chemicals, radiation, and smoke from oil fires. Also
called Persian Gulf illness.
Hashimoto's Thyroiditis: chronic autoimmune thyroiditis that is characterized
by thyroid enlargement, thyroid fibrosis, lymphatic infiltration of thyroid tissue,
and the production of antibodies which attack the thyroid and that occurs much
more often in women than men and increases in frequency of occurrence with
age called also Hashimoto's disease
Huntington's Disease: progressive chorea that is inherited as an autosomal
dominant trait, that usually begins in middle age, that is characterized by
choreiform movements and mental deterioration leading to dementia, and that is
accompanied by atrophy of the caudate nucleus and the loss of certain brain cells
with a decrease in the level of several neurotransmitters called also Huntington's
Hyperparathyroidism: An increase in the secretory activity of the parathyroid
glands, causing generalized osteitis fibrosa cystica, elevated serum calcium,
decreased serum phosphorus, and increased excretion of both calcium and
phosphorus
Hypothyroidism: Insufficient production of thyroid hormones
Lupus: Any of various chronic skin conditions characterized by ulcerative lesions
that spread over the body. No longer in scientific use.
Menopause: The period marked by the natural and permanent cessation of
menstruation, occurring usually between the ages of 45 and 55
Metachromatic Leukodystrophy: An inherited metabolic disorder characterized
by myelin loss, accumulation of metachromatic lipids in the white matter of the
central and peripheral nervous systems, a marked excess of sulfatidates in white
matter and in urine, progressive paralysis, and dementia.
Obstructive sleep apnea: sleep apnea that is caused by recurring interruption of
breathing during sleep because of obstruction of the upper airway by weak or
malformed pharyngeal tissues, that occurs especially in obese middle-aged and
elderly men, and that results in hypoxemia and in chronic lethargy during the
day called also obstructive sleep apnea syndrome
Panic Disorder: A psychological disorder characterized by recurrent panic
attacks and usually resulting in the development of one or more phobias,
such as agoraphobia. It may or may not be associated with a specific
situational trigger.
Pellagra: A disease caused by a deficiency of niacin and protein in the diet
and characterized by skin eruptions, digestive and nervous system
disturbances, and eventual mental deterioration.
Polymyalgia rheumatica: disorder of the elderly characterized by muscular pain
and stiffness in the shoulders and neck and in the pelvic area
Porphyria: Any of several disorders of porphyrin metabolism, usually
hereditary, characterized by the presence of large amounts of porphyrins
in the blood and urine.
Postpartum depression: After having a baby, many women have mood swings.
One minute they feel happy, the next minute they start to cry. They may feel a
little depressed, have a hard time concentrating, lose their appetite or find that
they can't sleep well even when the baby is asleep. These symptoms usually start
about 3 to 4 days after delivery and may last several days.
Premenstrual syndrome: A varied group of physical and psychological
symptoms, including abdominal bloating, breast tenderness, headache,
fatigue, irritability, anxiety, and depression, that occur from 2 to 7 days
before the onset of menstruation and cease shortly after menses begins.
Progressive Supranuclear Palsy: an uncommon neurological disorder that is of
unknown etiology, that typically occurs from late middle age onward, and that is
marked by loss of voluntary vertical eye movement, muscular rigidity and
dystonia of the neck and trunk, pseudobulbar paralysis, bradykinesia, and
dementia called also supranuclear palsy
Psychosis: A severe mental disorder, with or without organic damage,
characterized by derangement of personality and loss of contact with
reality and causing deterioration of normal social functioning.
Rabies: An acute, infectious, often fatal viral disease of most warm-blooded
animals, especially wolves, cats, and dogs that attack the central nervous system
and are transmitted by the bite of infected animals
Seasonal Affective Disorder: A form of depression occurring at certain
seasons of the year, especially when the individual has less exposure to
sunlight.
Sleep apnea: A temporary suspension of breathing occurring repeatedly
during sleep that often affects overweight people or those having an
obstruction in the breathing tract, an abnormally small throat opening, or
a neurological disorder.
Stress: A mentally or emotionally disruptive or upsetting condition occurring
in response to adverse external influences and capable of affecting physical
health, usually characterized by increased heart rate, a rise in blood pressure,
muscular tension, irritability, and depression.
Suicide: The act or an instance of intentionally killing oneself
Whiplash: An injury to the cervical spine caused by an abrupt jerking motion of
the head, either backward or forward
LIMITATIONS
1. Respondents that responded to the survey in some cases with unrelated
answers, therefore affecting the weight of the findings.
2. A wide range of respondents in the survey was not attained. The main
group of respondents were 16/17 years old. This may also affect the
validity of conclusions drawn.
3. The responses to the interviews did not give me the best information I
could have attained therefore affecting the amount of primary data I
gathered.
4. Lack of motivation to complete my assignment in a timely fashion
5. The interview with the Kids Help Line was cut short because the
counsellors are not permitted for interviewing for schooling purposes due
to the amount of kids needing their services.
6. The students did not do the surveys I handed out in a timely manner
therefore creating more stress for me to create more surveys to be
collected again.
RESEARCH PROCEDURES
METHODOLOGY APPROACH
The investigation and collection of data is based on:
1. Surveying students from Terra Sancta College on the awareness they have
of depression and the impact it has on teenagers.
2. Interview with a student from Terra Sancta College who suffers from
clinical depression.
3. Interview with a second student from Terra Sancta College who also
suffers from clinical depression.
4. Interview with a counsellor from The Kids Help Line to find out his
opinions on depression and the facts he knows, as he is a counsellor.
5. Reviewing secondary information on the effect depression has on
teenagers. This includes Pamphlets, books and websites.
SUBJECTS
The subjects that we used in the IRP were selected in the following way:

Students at Terra Sancta College who were chosen randomly to complete
a survey relating to depression and the social, emotional and physical
effects it has on teens.

Interview one: a friend of mine who currently attends Terra Sancta
College who suffers from depression and can give first hand knowledge
of what depression is all about.

Interview two: a friend of mine who currently attends Terra Sancta
College who also suffers from depression and can give first hand
knowledge of what depression is all about.
Interview three: A random counsellor from The Kids Help Line who can give
information on teenagers he has talked to who suffer with depression.
POPULATION
The Population that is the focus of this research includes:



Students at Terra Sancta College
A counsellor from The Kids Help Line
Unnamed – A student and teen that currently suffers with clinical
depression

Unnamed – A student and teen that currently suffers from clinical
depression


The Terra Sancta College library – books attained from there
Google web based search engine – websites were then obtained from there

DATA COLLECTION
An interview format was used to gain 3 out of 4 primary research

A survey was used to gain the other primary source



Interview one consisted of 8 questions
Interview two consisted of 8 questions also
Interview three consisted of 3 questions due to the interview being cut
short

Interview one was 10 minutes in duration and was over the phone. It was
written while being interviewed

Interview two was 15 minutes in duration using the same questions and it
was in person. The responses were written while she was being
interviewed

Interview three was 10 minutes in duration and was over the phone. I
wrote the answers while interviewing

The survey had four questions and was handed out to 30 random students
at Terra Sancta College

Secondary data was collected from pamphlets, books and websites
DATA ANALYSIS
Data analysis involved:

Extensive reading from multiple books and websites to gain further
knowledge on depression

Analysing the primary data, including the interviews and survey

Analysing the comparisons between primary and secondary data
SECONDARY RESEARCH FOR Q1. WHAT IS DEPRESSION AND
THE DIFFERENT TYPES THAT EXIST:
Depression is a tragic but real fact of life. Mental depression is one of
humanity’s most common sicknesses and is distinctly different from mere
unhappiness or sadness. Both men and women are falling into the trap of
depression and into feelings of desperation, desolation, hopelessness and
vulnerability due to the hastily varying social environment and morals. A
depressive disorder is an illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts. It
affects the way a person eats and sleeps, the way they feel about themselves, and
the way they feel about life in general. Most people have blue days from time to
time, but many people experience depression so deep and lasting that it destroys
all pleasures in life.
So what is depression? Depression is a sad mood that doesn’t go away.
The loss of enjoyment, confidence, self-esteem and self-concept. It is a feeling of
guilt, the difficulty concentrating, and the change in eating or sleeping habits or
thoughts of death. Depression is usually triggered by something such as a bad
relationship, having a baby, losing a job, being a victim of a crime, stress or
something as simple as lack of exposure to bright light. It can also be triggered
by substance abuse, death of a close friend or family member, learning
disabilities, social problems such as poverty, homelessness or violence, and just
general unhappiness caused through family and friends. Genetics is also a huge
factor in the contribution to depression.
There are many different types of depression, some much worse than
others. Major depression, also known as clinical depression, is diagnosed if a
person has experienced 2 weeks of depressed mood with at least four other
symptoms of depression. It is a severe form of depression believed to be
associated with a chemical imbalance in the brain. Symptoms that can indicate
clinical depression include a depressed mood, loss of interest or enjoyment, low
energy level and fatigue and tiredness only after slight effort. These are the most
common signs, but someone with clinical depression can also experience a
reduction in concentration and attention, low self-esteem and confidence,
feelings of guilt and worthlessness, pessimistic views of the future, ideas of selfharm and / or suicide, disturbed sleep, and loss of appetite.
Dysthymic disorder is diagnosed if a person has experienced at least 2
years of depressed mood more days than not and has additional symptoms of
depression. It has an early onset and is present for many years. Children with
Dysthymic disorder are usually angry, have low self esteem and have difficulty
socialising. Dysthymic Disorder is often characterised by chronic depression, but
without the severity of major depression. The main symptom is an almost dailydepressed mood for at least two years. Other symptoms often include lowered
energy, sleep and appetite disturbances and low self-esteem. Sufferers of
Dysthymic Disorder will often claim that they can't ever remember not feeling
depressed. Dysthymia does not tend to hinder the sufferer to the point where
they cannot perform everyday routines, although the disorder is severe enough
to cause distress and interference with important life role responsibilities.
Dysthymic Disorder causes changes in thinking, feelings, behaviour and physical
well-being.
Manic Depression, which is also known as bi-polar disorder, is
characterised by exaggerated mood upswings. If you’re manic, your mood is
happy, confident and “up”, even euphoric, while your emotions such as
affection, generosity love, irritability and anger are very volatile. You may feel
simply energetic and productive at the beginning of a manic period, only to lose
touch with reality and develop big but completely unrealistic beliefs as the
episode escalates. Occasionally they will suffer from paranoid beliefs, beliefs of a
conspiracy against the sufferer are most common.
POSSIBLE CONDITIONS OR DRUGS THAT MAY CAUSE DEPRESSION

Addison's Disease


Amphetamines
Autoimmune thyroid diseases

Baby blues


Biotin deficiency

Bipolar disorder
Borderline Personality Disorder


Celiac Disease
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome


Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease


Cushing's syndrome

Cyclothymic disorder
Dementia With Lewy Bodies

Depressive disorders

Dysthymia


Cocaine
Ecstasy
Generalized anxiety disorder

Grand mal seizures

Gulf War syndrome

Hashimoto's Thyroiditis

Huntington's Disease

Hyperparathyroidism

Hypothyroidism

Lupus


Menopause
Metachromatic Leukodystrophy

Obstructive sleep apnea

Panic Disorder


Pellagra
Polymyalgia rheumatica


Postpartum depression

Premenstrual syndrome


Porphyria
Prion diseases
Progressive Supranuclear Palsy

Psychosis


Rabies
Seasonal Affective Disorder

Sleep apnea




Stress
Suicide
Thyroid disorders
Traumatic Brain Injury

Whiplash
PRIMARY RESEARCH FOR Q1. WHAT IS DEPRESSION AND THE
DIFFERENT TYPES THAT EXIST:
Depression can be found in children of any age. According to
Interview one and Interview two, there was a constant feeling of sadness,
unworthiness, helplessness and hopelessness. Self-mutilation happened
frequently and suicide was contemplated everyday. Both Interview one and
interview two have clinical/major depression and say it does affect their
everyday lives. They feel they are judged for it more often than not and need
ways to vent out their frustration, anger and guilt. Interviewee one said she
wrote dark poetry drew dark pictures and self-mutilated herself to clear her head
and make her feel better. Interviewee two said she segregated and isolated
herself and cried often to make herself feel better. They both said that the
depression was the worst feeling - waking up in the morning just waiting and
willing for it to be time to go back to bed.
The third interview was with a Kids Help Line counsellor. He said
that he would define depression as an Alone Mood. That depression was
persistent over time and could range from weeks to years. He stated that
depression would be significantly noticeable by the change of normal, everyday
activities and a change in the way of functioning. He also said that everyone is
different in the way they show their depression and some aren’t very noticeable
but others are.
In a survey given to students at Terra Sancta College, the majority
said they believed depression was when you are sad for a certain period of time.
Others stated it was when the person felt unwanted, had low self esteem, was
down and unhappy. Only a small amount could name a type of depression and
that was bi-polar and manic.
SECONDARY RESEARCH FOR Q2. DESCRIBE THE SOCIAL,
EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL EFFECTS OF DEPRESSION ON
THE INDIVIDUAL:
The symptoms of depression generate a shield between the sufferer and
others, therefore decreasing both the amount and value of their social contacts.
Depression segregates us, hinders us, and can add to weakening physical as well
as emotional health. The physical, emotional and social effect on the individual
greatly hinders the wellbeing of that individual and of others.
The physical effects of depression on the sufferer are things such as:

Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed,
including sex

Decreased energy, fatigue, feeling "slowed down"


Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions



Inability to act
Inability to think clearly, feeling “fuzzy-headed"
Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
Loss of appetite and weight loss, or overeating and weight gain


Restlessness, irritability
Headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain
The physical effects for a person suffering with bi-polar or manic
depression are as follows:

Agitation, edginess, irritability, restlessness


Increased energy, sleeplessness
Reckless spending sprees or other activities with high potential for painful
consequences

Delusions or hallucinations


Increased sexual drive

Aggressive behaviour

Inability to concentrate well



Drug or alcohol use
Euphoria, feeling "high"
Racing thoughts, talkativeness
Inflated self-esteem; grandiosity; poor judgment

Inappropriate public behaviour
The emotional effects for someone suffering with depression are:

Sadness

Helplessness

Hopelessness

Worthlessness


Loss of interest
Thoughts of death, suicide


Feelings of guilt
Unusual fear or feelings of panic

Unexplained crying spells

Feelings of worthlessness

Irritability

Pessimism
The emotional affects and feelings for a sufferer of manic-depression are:

Excessive irritability, aggressive behaviour


Inflated sense of self-importance
Prolonged sadness or unexplained crying spells

Irritability, anger, worry, agitation, anxiety


Pessimism, indifference
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness

Recurring thoughts of death or suicide

Unrealistic belief in one's own abilities


Poor judgment
Unexplained crying
The social effects on a person who has depression are:

Inability to take pleasure in former interests, social withdrawal

Detachment from friends, family and relationships


Loss of enthusiasm
Irritability, anger, worry, agitation, anxiety
The social effect on someone with manic-depression or bipolar are:

Increased talking, moving, and sexual activity

Provocative or obnoxious behaviour


Increased sex drive
Increased energy, activity, rapid talking & thinking, agitation
PRIMARY RESEARCH FOR Q2. DESCRIBE THE SOCIAL,
EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL EFFECTS OF DEPRESSION ON
THE INDIVIDUAL:
Interview one said that the social effects on her from the depression
caused her to segregate herself and withdraw from friends and family. She said
she became anti-social and rarely left her room except for school. The emotional
effects on her had her crying herself to sleep and writing dark and sorrowful
poetry. She was feeling sad and hopeless all the time and felt unworthy of the
friends she still had left. She constantly thought about suicide. The physical
effect on her was that she constantly felt tired and had unexplained headaches.
She often caused herself physical pain from self-mutilation whether it was
cutting, burning or bruising herself. Another physical effect was that the antidepressants she was on made her aggressive, tired and drowsy, and put on
weight.
Interview two said she was always around friends but she felt alone even
though she was surrounded. She had friends with her all the time but felt as
though she couldn’t talk about her pain or it would show her weakness. She
gradually withdrew herself from her friends and family and her boyfriend and
stayed at home all the time. Emotionally, she was a wreck. She said she cried at
the drop of a hat and became very sensitive to anything anyone would say. She
felt guilty at the way she was acting but also felt very victimised. She said that
physically, she ached all the time, had constant headaches and was too tired to
function properly.
A third interview with a counsellor from the Kids Help Line described the
social, emotional and physical affects he sees mostly in the kids that call and
require his assistance. He stated that they say mostly that they feel that nobody
understands what they are going through and that they are all alone. They
discuss how they feel about their seclusion and isolation and that they feel that
talking to family and friends will cause them unnecessary stress and add
burdens on them. He says they feel angry and guilty for how they feel and that
self-harm gives them a vent. They also talk about attempted suicide.
Through a survey given out at Terra Sancta college, the majority said that
the physical effects of depression was the self-harm and self-mutilation. Most
also said that they gain weight or lose weight quickly and they would feel tired
and stop caring about appearance. All of them said that for the social effects,
they would isolate themselves or not have many friends. For the emotional
effects, the majority also said that they would feel sad, alone and suicidal.
SECONDARY RESEARCH FOR Q3. IDENTIFY THE SUPPORT
NETWORKS AND THE HELP THAT IS AVAILABLE FOR TEENS
WHO ARE DIAGNOSED WITH DEPRESSION:
Support networks are the most integral part of recovery after depression.
Counsellors, kids help line, parents, friends, family, and religion are all excellent
support groups to help the teenager throughout this ordeal. The help that is
available is:

Counselling and therapy – Sometimes the sufferer may feel as though they
have no one to talk to about how they are feeling. Counselling and
therapy involve a process of talking about concerns, working through
possible solutions and learning problem solving, communication skills
and coping strategies

Medication – Medication such as anti-depressants can be effective in the
treatment of depression in some people. Anti-depressants often
prescribed are the tricyclic anti-depressants and monoamine oxidase
inhibitors. These medications are non-habit forming and are helpful in
reducing the severity, frequency and duration of depressive episodes. The
new generation of antidepressants include Prozac, wellbutrin and Zoloft.

Hospitalisation – Sometimes a short stay in hospital is recommended if
they feel so depressed that they may attempt suicide or the depression has
affected their ability to function day to day. Hospitalisation may provide
them with a chance to become used to medication and/or start talking
about the pain they are experiencing.

Alternative therapy – St John’s Wort has become prominent in recent
years as an alternative herbal remedy for depression.
There are many ways, in which a sufferer of depression can help
themselves to recover using things such as monitoring the amount of negative
self-talk, recognising the connection between thought, mood and behaviour, and
challenging the automatic responses to situations and events. A good way to
monitor the negative self-talk is substituting “I can’t do that” with “I don’t think
I can do that but I will try”.
Another strategy for staying well is to learn to like themselves. These are
five ways to learn to like themselves:
1. Be honest with themself and others
2. Realise that procrastination erodes self esteem
3. Know who they are and what they believe
4. Realise they are just as valuable as someone else
5. Learn the art of encouragement.
PRIMARY RESEARCH FOR Q3. IDENTIFY THE SUPPORT
NETWORKS AND THE HELP THAT IS AVAILABLE FOR TEENS
WHO ARE DIAGNOSED WITH DEPRESSION:
Interview one stated that counsellors are the best way to recover.
Every three to six months she gets reviewed by a psychologist and once a month
she sees a counsellor to help her deal with depression. Medication and antidepressants are also prescribed to her to help her depression. Ciprinal was the
first anti-depressant prescribed but now she is on Prozac. She strongly
recommends people to get counselling before getting anti-depressants because
they don’t always work. She said she turned to writing poetry and drawing to
vent her frustrations.
Interview two said she saw a counsellor once a fortnight in the first
few months to help kick start the recovery process and now sees one every six
months. She said she was never prescribed anti-depressants and used dancing
and her relationships with friends, family and her boyfriend to help her recover.
She also advises people to look at alternative therapy if you do not have to go
onto anti-depressants.
Through an interview with a counsellor in The Kids Help Line, the
key thing the sufferer must do is not withdraw from assistance. And once
assistance is achieved, to reach out in the local area to friends, family, school,
counsellors, professionals and doctors. It is vital that the person gets adequate
treatment to help them out of the depression. He said that even if antidepressants are not needed, to use the therapy to raise their self-esteem and selfconcept they had lost.
RESOURCE LIST

Read, Dr Christine and Dr Lisa Lampe. Depression, Lifting the Cloud.
Sydney. Wyeth Australia Pty Limited 1993.

Mental Health Information Service brochure ‘Depression’ – 1800 674 200

Depression website - www.depression.com

National Institute of Mental Health -
www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/depression.cfm

Depression Alliance -www.depressionalliance.org

Depressionet - www.depressionet.com.au



ABOUT - www.depression.about.com
Psychology Information Online - www.psychologyinfo.com
Depression and Bi-polar Support Alliance – www.dbsalliance.org

Kids Health - www.kidshealth.org

Survey – Depression, April 18, 2005

Interview – unnamed 2005, sufferer of depression [interview] June 23

Interview – unnamed 2005, sufferer of depression [interview] June 23
Interview – Kids Help Line Counsellor [interview] June 23
NOTE:
NEED TO ADD CONCLUSIONS OF EACH OF YOUR QUESTIONS AND
THE IMPLICATIONS PLUS SURVEY AND INTERVIEW QUESTIONS