Mood Disorders
Disorder
Resources
Depression
http://allpsych.com/disorders/mood/index.html http://www.camh.net/education/Online_courses_webinars/mha101/index.html Signs and Symptoms: lack of energy; oversleeping/not sleeping; drop in grades; regress to childhood fears; self-harm; substance abuse; aggressive; accident prone/clumsy
Strategies: connect; allow creative outlets (writing, drawing, doodling); help with memory and organization
Suicide
Centre for Suicide Prevention. “Teen Suicide Resource Toolkit” (2012). http://www.suicideprevention.ca/ Signs and Symptoms: “calm before the storm” at peace with the decision to kill themselves; getting things in order; talk about death and suicide; making amends; writing a letter; hopelessness – things will not get better; intense emotional pain; release in artwork/journals/storywriting
Strategies: if a student tells you they want to kill themselves you have to report it – tell principal, parents and 911; ask outright – “Are you going to kill yourself? But preface it, I’m asking because I care.”; always take it seriously; if they say no but admit to suicidal thoughts, help them get the help they need; be aware of sharp objects in the class; keep your class as regular and “normal” as possible after an incident;
Behavioural Disorders
Disorder
Resources
Eating Disorders http://knowledgex.camh.net/podcasts/tnt/Pages/default.aspx http://allpsych.com/disorders/eating/index.html
Signs and Symptoms: Hair loss; bad teeth; sore throat – lots of throat lozenges; baggy clothes; rapid weight loss; over/under eating
Strategies: do not comment on weight; make room for mistakes; media literacy
Oppositional Defiance Disorder http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002504/ http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/oppositional-defiant-disorder/DS00630
Signs and Symptoms: Does not respond to authority figures, blames others for mistakes, seeks revenge,