depression
Definition:
“Depression is characterized by symptoms such as persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, dejection and guilt; withdrawal from activities and people; poor concentration; lack of energy; inability to sleep; weight loss or gain; anxiety, irritability or agitation; and/or thoughts of death or suicide” (Learn Alberta).
Code 42
“Depression is characterized by symptoms such as persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, dejection and guilt; withdrawal from activities and people; poor concentration; lack of energy; inability to sleep; weight loss or gain; anxiety, irritability or agitation; and/or thoughts of death or suicide” (Learn Alberta).
Code 42
Characteristics/Behaviours:
The Warning Signs A student with depression will display three symptom groups: 1) Mood: Feeling of sadness, worthlessness, hopelessness, inappropriate guilt, and disinterest in all or almost all activities. 2) Thinking (Cognitive): Diminished ability to concentrate, suicidal thoughts/plans. 3). Body Sensations (Somatic): Excessive fatigue, sleep problems, physical slowness, decrease in appetite that may lead to noticeable weight loss. |
What does it look like in schools?
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What can I do in the classroom?
Movement Break
This quick and easy strategy could give the student an opportunity to improve mood and increase energy through movement. Research shows that physical activity increases positive mood. This is a subtle way to help the particular student dealing with depression while getting all the students active and engaged in a fun activity. Some ideas for good movement breaks include: Just Dance, Chain Reaction, Simon Says.
"Today is not my Day"
This strategy is used in the classroom when it comes to assessment. If the teacher sets up the expectation that the students are allowed to have a total of three passes on days where the are not in the right mind set, they can come to the teacher in the morning and say " Today is not my Day". This indicates that the student is taking a pass on that day and will make up the summative assessment at a later date when it is discussed between the student and teacher.
Zen Corner
The idea behind this strategy is to give all students an outlet to recollect their thoughts and feelings. This corner would be available to every students and could include items such as colouring books, bean bag chairs, books, music and journals.
Mind Set Scale
A self monitoring tool that could be placed where the teacher sees fit. It could be placed on student's desks, in the Zen corner or on the wall. This self-regulating tool allows students to monitor their mind set. It could be adapted throughout grades. The lower grades could use stop light colours and visual prompts while older grades may use word cues.
Mental Health Awareness
In middle school and high-school the teacher may choose to implement a Mental Health Awareness week in their classroom. This could be cross-curricular projects that could be show cased to more than one grade if organization allows. This way all students increase their awareness with mental health issues.
Movement Break
This quick and easy strategy could give the student an opportunity to improve mood and increase energy through movement. Research shows that physical activity increases positive mood. This is a subtle way to help the particular student dealing with depression while getting all the students active and engaged in a fun activity. Some ideas for good movement breaks include: Just Dance, Chain Reaction, Simon Says.
"Today is not my Day"
This strategy is used in the classroom when it comes to assessment. If the teacher sets up the expectation that the students are allowed to have a total of three passes on days where the are not in the right mind set, they can come to the teacher in the morning and say " Today is not my Day". This indicates that the student is taking a pass on that day and will make up the summative assessment at a later date when it is discussed between the student and teacher.
Zen Corner
The idea behind this strategy is to give all students an outlet to recollect their thoughts and feelings. This corner would be available to every students and could include items such as colouring books, bean bag chairs, books, music and journals.
Mind Set Scale
A self monitoring tool that could be placed where the teacher sees fit. It could be placed on student's desks, in the Zen corner or on the wall. This self-regulating tool allows students to monitor their mind set. It could be adapted throughout grades. The lower grades could use stop light colours and visual prompts while older grades may use word cues.
Mental Health Awareness
In middle school and high-school the teacher may choose to implement a Mental Health Awareness week in their classroom. This could be cross-curricular projects that could be show cased to more than one grade if organization allows. This way all students increase their awareness with mental health issues.
Resources/Links:
Alberta
https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/ee2ccea8-97fe-41a1-aa11-ed9f21421364/resource/22551585-a8d1-4b54-bdc3-7b21067cdaa7/download/3656041-2015-Special-Education-Coding-Criteria-2015-2016.pdf
https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/Pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=aba5372
http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/inmdict/html/depression.html
https://education.alberta.ca/mental-health/components/
http://alberta.cmha.ca/mental_health/depression-what-is-it-what-do-do/#.VrFZ1ng-BmA
Additional
http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/oct10/vol68/num02/Responding-to-a-Student's-Depression.aspx
www.teenmentalhealth.org
Mental Health and High School Curriculum Guide.pdf
http://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-depression
http://studentsfirstproject.org/wp-content/uploads/School-and-Classroom-Depression-Strategies.pdf
Alberta
https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/ee2ccea8-97fe-41a1-aa11-ed9f21421364/resource/22551585-a8d1-4b54-bdc3-7b21067cdaa7/download/3656041-2015-Special-Education-Coding-Criteria-2015-2016.pdf
https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/Pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=aba5372
http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/inmdict/html/depression.html
https://education.alberta.ca/mental-health/components/
http://alberta.cmha.ca/mental_health/depression-what-is-it-what-do-do/#.VrFZ1ng-BmA
Additional
http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/oct10/vol68/num02/Responding-to-a-Student's-Depression.aspx
www.teenmentalhealth.org
Mental Health and High School Curriculum Guide.pdf
http://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-depression
http://studentsfirstproject.org/wp-content/uploads/School-and-Classroom-Depression-Strategies.pdf