MARY MCCLURE, SOCIAL WORK FIELD PLACEMENT STUDENT

Anxiety & Depressionin School Age Children

Welcome!

Ice BreakerAbout UsAbout You

Name & school What you know about mental illness Stories Questions

By the Numbers

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 18% the adult population

Anxiety disorders affect 1 in 8 children8% of teens 13-18 have an anxiety disorder

Symptoms commonly emerge around age 6 Of these, only 18% received mental health care

By the Numbers

2% of school age children & 8% of adolescents meet criteria for major depression

1 in 5 teens have experienced depression Nearly one-half of those diagnosed with

depression are also diagnosed with an anxiety disorder

What is Anxiety?

Anxiety Disorders generalized anxiety disorder

(GAD) Social phobia Separation anxiety

Signs & Symptoms of Anxiety Disorders

Symptoms cluster around excessive, irrational fear and dread. Physical pain Extreme discomfort in social situations Excessive fear about the future Extreme sensitivity to rejection or failure Poor concentration Increased irritability, anger, or hostility

Symptoms present for at least 6 months

Causes of Anxiety Disorders

Combination of genetic, environmental, psychological, and developmental factors

Brain disorder brought on by changes in brain chemistry

Key actors in brain production of fear and anxiety Amygdala: process incoming sensory

signals Hippocampus: encodes events into

memories

What is Depression?

Child feels discouraged, sad, hopeless, unmotivated, or disinterested in life.

Depression: feelings last for more than two weeks and interfere with daily activities.

Symptoms of Depression

Persistent sad, anxious or "empty" mood Hopelessness, pessimism Guilt, worthlessness, helplessness Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and

activities Decreased energy, fatigue Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making

decisions Sleep issues Low appetite/weight loss or overeating/weight

gain Thoughts of death or suicide, suicide attempts Restlessness, irritability Persistent physical symptoms that do not

respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders and pain for which no other cause can be diagnosed.

Source: Anxiety & Depression Association of America

Causes of Depression

Most likely, depression is caused by a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors.

Depressive illnesses are disorders of the brain Neurotransmitters: out of balance

MRIs of people with depressionFamily history, trauma, stressful

situationsCo-morbidity

How you can help your students

Offer emotional support, understanding, patience, and encouragement.

Pay attention to your child’s feelings. Stay calm when your child becomes anxious

about a situation or event. Recognize and praise small accomplishments. Don’t punish mistakes or lack of progress. Be flexible and try to maintain a normal

routine. Modify expectations during stressful periods. Plan for transitions.

Source: Anxiety & Depression Association of America

If you suspect your student is struggling with a mental health issue, please discuss

with the teacher or site supervisor.

Older Adults & Mental Health

Depression is not a normal part of aging. Studies show that most seniors feel satisfied with

their lives Different experiences of depressive symptoms

Grief vs. Major DepressionMedical ConditionsSuicide RatesTreatment

Conclusion

AwarenessQuestions?Tell us what you learned!

Sources: • Anxiety & Depression

Association of America (ADAA)

• National Institute of Mental Health

• WebMD