Depression is a common mental health disorder characterized by low—or depressed—moods over an extended period of time. Nearly anyone can experience depression at some or multiple points in their life. It is a difficult condition to classify, as depression can feel and impact one’s life in very different ways. While no two people’s symptoms may be exactly the same, everyone’s experiences are equally valid.

Adolescence can be a tricky time for students as social situations change and develop, as school becomes more intensive, and as bodies change. It is common for students to feel depressed, to some degree, as they navigate these changes. One of the most important things during this time is for them to know that they have unconditional love and support.

Depression can be fueled by many different factors. Below is a broad, non-comprehensive list of particular themes and scenarios that may be affecting your students' mental health.

• School stress: pressure to excel, demands of assignments, busyness of schedules and extracurricular commitments
• Social situations: changes of friends and groups, peer pressure to participate in things that you don’t want to, bullying or feelings of exclusion
• Family dynamics: moving, divorces and splitting of families, new marriages, new siblings or other family members, family crises or emergencies

Anything that causes emotional changes or upset can affect one's well-being and may lead to feeling depressed. Depression can also be caused by genetics; just as everyone’s bodies work differently, some people are more prone to mood disorders depending on the genetics and biology of their brain.

Depression can also feel vague and unprovoked. It might seem that your students aren't troubled by anything in particular, but are still showing signs of depression. There may be underlying causes to their depressed moods. If they seem in distress and open up to you in search of support, it can mean a lot for them to have your listening ear and kind words of support.

There are many different symptoms of depression. Depression can look and feel differently to everyone. Here is a non-comprehensive list of what signs to look for if you're concerned that your students might be feeling depressed.

• Emotional: A common perception of depression is having a depressed mood. This is not simply feeling “sad,” however—this could mean a wide range of sometimes unexpected, unpredictable, and uncomfortable feelings. They might feel anxious, “empty,” irritated, restless, hopeless, or worthless, among other emotions. You may also notice that they've lost interest in things or activities that they once loved or brought them joy.
• Cognitive: School may become unexpectedly difficult for them, as depression affects motivation, concentration, and memory. You might notice that their focus or behavior in the classroom is unusual and concerning.
• Physical: Depression can, and often does, affect one’s physical well-being.
  • Sleep: Sleep patterns may be affected, such as sleeping too much, not being able to sleep well, or at all.
  • Appetite: Eating habits may change. You might notice that they are eating too much or eating too little, sometimes resulting in weight loss or gain.
  • Pain or discomfort: Although not as widely acknowledged, depression can certainly affect how your body feels. They might notice new aches and pains, upset stomach, headaches, chronic fatigue, or loss of energy.

If you or someone you know is at risk of harming themselves or others, please call 911 immediately. If you are having a non-emergency crisis and are in need of support, please reach out to the resources below.

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All of the affects of depression can be severe and should be handled with care. Suicide can feel like a last resort to someone who is severely depressed and looking for relief. Just like physical illnesses, mental conditions—including depression—are serious and can be fatal.

Suicide is the deliberate taking of one's own life. It is not a mental disorder, but is often triggered by mental illnesses and is closely associated with depression. Suicidal thoughts can unwillingly develop as a response to unbearable feelings of depression, hopelessness, worthlessness, and more. People who have thoughts of suicide often don't want to die, but rather want to escape their thoughts, feelings, or life.

Stress, lack of support, questioning of identity, and emotional or physical abuse can also contribute to thoughts of suicide. Any feelings, experiences, or situations that seem to make life harder than it should be can fuel depression and the desire to harm oneself.

Signs of suicidal thoughts are often similar to (but sometimes more severe than) signs of depression. These include withdrawal from friends and family, lack of interest in activities, difficulties in school, and other uncharacteristic behaviors. Someone who is suicidal may also talk about hurting themselves, being worthless or a burden, or feeling trapped or in unbearable emotional pain.

It can be common for people with depression to experience suicidal thoughts to some degree. It is important to take these thoughts seriously, take the precautions below, and ask for the help that you need.

There are many ways to help your students if you suspect that they might be feeling depressed. Here are some things to keep in mind as you navigate through your school year and become a support system for your students.

• Put up posters around your classroom or office that advocate for student mental health and awareness. Note some quick tips and hotline numbers that are easily accessible to your students, ideally in a central, noticeable location. If possible, also feature posters in central spots in hallways.
• Don't hesitate to bring up mental health in conversation. It is likely that it will come up throughout the year during talks and lessons. Take the opportunity to talk about it in casual, realistic ways. Normalizing mental health and mental health disorders is incredibly important, especially for students. This will also let them know that you can be a source of support if they need someone to reach out to, or feel that they don't have anyone else to talk to.
• Create a warm and welcoming space for your students. Let them know that your room or office is a Safe Space. Safe Spaces are places free of bias, conflict, and criticism of feelings, ideas, thoughts, and conversations. These places also exist to encourage those who feel marginalized to come together to share their experiences. It can help to have a poster indicating that your room is a Safe Space--many students know what this means.
• If students approach you in search of support or to open up about their feelings, make the space for them sit and talk. If they come to you at a time that isn't ideal to talk, set up another, private time where they can sit with you one-on-one so they don't feel rushed or self-conscious. For many students, it helps just to have an open ear. Other times, it helps to talk through their situation and share your experiences. It can often be hardest to feel that you are alone in your experiences.

Some students might not have support at home. School becomes a very important place for many to connect with peers, teachers, and staff. For some, this is their only place where they can find help and resources. At whatever chance you can, make sure that your students know that there is no shame in asking for help, and that help exists all around them at school.

Hotlines — Call & Text Support
If you or someone you know is at risk of harming themselves or others, please call 911 and notify the operator that you are having a psychaitric emergency. Ask for an officer trained in crisis intervention or psychiatric emergencies.

If you are having a non-emergency crisis, there are many resources for you to receive immediate relief by calling or texting with a trained crisis operator. Here is a list of some important numbers and resources to know about in case you find yourself or someone you know needing anonymous support.

National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433) or 1-800-442-HOPE (4673) or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or text "TALK" to 741741
Toll-free, 24-hour, confidential hotlines which connect you to a trained counselor at the nearest suicide crisis center.

SAMHSA’s National Helpline – 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
A free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.

Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
This hotline connects callers to trained crisis counselors. Their website is a 24-hour confidential hotline that offers details on how to call if you need help and how to identify suicide warning signs.

NAMI Hotline: 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or text “NAMI” to 741741
NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.

The Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386 or text "START" to 678678
The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people under 25.

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Websites — Resources & Information
There are many resources about depression and finding help on the internet. Below are some dependable links that you can browse for information and support.

Erika’s Lighthouse
Erika’s Lighthouse’s mission is to make sure no young person feels alone in their depression. They are dedicated to creating a community of empathy and education. They have classroom programs for educations to lead depression awareness initiatives in their schools.

HEARD Alliance
The HEARD Alliance (Health Care Alliance for Response to Adolescent Depression) provides resources for educators for treating depression and related conditions, and preventing suicide in adolescents and young adults.

Child Mind Institute
The Child Mind Institute wants to help you make good decisions for the children you care for. They explore concerns and challenges most from parents have and provide expert guidance on how to respond in the most effective way. They offer resources for educators including classroom strategies, teacher guides, and webinars and school talks.

The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people under 25.

Teen Mental Health
TMH has a plethora of links and resources for educators on how to help and care for their students with mental health issues.

The Jason Foundation, Inc.
The Jason Foundation provides information, education programs and resources to help in the fight against the “silent epidemic” of youth suicide. They have detailed information for educators on youth suicide prevention.

Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE)
SAVE is one of the nation’s first organizations dedicated to the prevention of suicide. Their work is based on the foundation and belief that suicide is preventable and everyone has a role to play in preventing suicide.

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is a voluntary health organization that gives those affected by suicide a nationwide community empowered by research, education and advocacy to take action against this leading cause of death.

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is the lead federal agency for research on mental disorders. They have a wealth of information about adolescent mental health.

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS)
The Department of Health and Human Services has a great amount of information about how adults can support adolescent mental health issues.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The CDC has a guide for adults about childhood anxiety, depression, and other mental illnesses.

There are many different statistics on adolsecent depression from a variety of reports and resources. Here are just a few statistics from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), both verified and dependable sources.

• 3.2% of children aged 3-17 years (approximately 1.9 million) have been diagnosed depression.
• About 3 in 4 children aged 3-17 years with depression also have anxiety (73.8%).
• An estimated 3.2 million adolescents aged 12 to 17 in the United States have had at least one depressive episode. This number represents 13.3% of the U.S. population aged 12 to 17.
• Nearly 8 in 10 children (78.1%) aged 3-17 years with depression receive treatment.

Please keep in mind that depression is common among adolsecents and that there are many ways for you to help and support your students. If you have any non-emergency questions or concerns that you can't find answers for, please do reach out to our support staff and resources that are listed above. We are always ready and willing to help and talk.