Depression and Suicide
At no time should a non-medical practitioner like a teacher, educational assistant etc. offer a diagnosis, or comment on the potential of a diagnosis for a child in their care. As a teacher or educational assistant, it is your responsibility to report behaviours of concern to either the child's parents, or a member of your school health team and /or administration. This is an important distinction and one that must be completely understood. If you are unsure of your role, you should speak with your school administration to clarify your responsibilities.
What is Depression?
Depression is a type of mental illness called a mood disorder. Mood disorders affect the way you feel, which also affects the way you think and act. With depression, you may feel, down, hopeless, or find that you can't enjoy things you used to like. Many people who experience depression feel irritable or angry. And some people say that they feel numb all the time.
- can affect anyone
- likely caused by many factors that work together, such as family history, genetics, environment, life experiences, personal and physical health problems
What does it look like in a classroom?
A student may exhibit the following symptoms
- changes in feelings
- changes in physical health (complaining of headaches, general aches and pains that are medically unexplained)
- report changes in sleeping patterns (sleeping more than normal, not needing sleep)
- changes in how the student thinks (self dislike, self blame, talk negatively)
- show signs they are thinking of suicide
- changes in behaviour
- withdrawing from friends/family
- cry more easily
- show less interest in participating in activities
- over react, have outbursts of anger or tears over small incidents
- assignments incomplete or not attempted
Teaching and Learning Strategies
- learn about the disorder
- academic supports
- reduction in work output
- co-created deadlines
- demonstrate learning tasks in a variety of ways
- plan and implement learning activities the student will
- be engaged in
- will find humourous or 'fun'
- be successful at
- journalling
- reflecting on how activities make them feel
- gratitude
- encourage students to volunteer or become involved in a community social justice project
- provide opportunities for the student to self regulate (ie. engage in physical activity that elevates the heart rate, aromatherapy, talking or singing or listening to music, drawing or colouring etc)
What is suicide?
- Suicide, the deliberate taking of one’s own life
- is the second leading cause of death among young people in Canada
- globally, suicide is among the top three causes of death among young people (aged 15 to 34).
- In Canada approximately 200 youth between the ages of 15 and 24 years die by suicide (Statistics Canada, CANISM, table 102-0551)
- Rates among males are nearly three times as high as those among females.
Suicide Warning Signs
Major warning signs of suicide spell IS PATH WARM:
I—Ideation: thinking about suicide
S—Substance use: problems with drugs or alcohol
P—Purposelessness: feeling like there is no purpose in life or reason for living
A—Anxiety: feeling intense anxiety or feeling overwhelmed and unable to cope
T—Trapped: feeling trapped or feeling like there is no way out of a situation
H—Hopelessness or Helplessness: feeling no hope for the future, feeling like things will never get better
W—Withdrawal: avoiding family, friends, or activities
A—Anger: feeling unreasonable anger
R—Recklessness: engaging in risky or harmful activities normally avoided
M—Mood change: a significant change in mood
What should you do?
If a student mentions thoughts of suicide or self harm, you are required to support the student by ensuring they receive care from a medical healthcare provider
In the mean time
- be supportive and understanding
- spend time with them and listen to them
- encourage the student to follow their treatment plan, ask how you can help them
- be informed about mental illness
- ensure the student is included in school and classroom based activities
