depression and anxiety 101
DESCRIPTION
Depression and Anxiety 101. The School Perspective. Heather Koster , MSW, LICSW Cayla Rother , LSW, MaEd Jyoti Sinha , MSW, LGSW Nancy VanHorne, MSW, LICSW. What does depression and a nxiety look like at d ifferent ages from a School perspective?. The pre-k years. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
DEPRESSIO
N AND
ANXIETY
101
TH
E S
CH
OO
L P
ER
SP
EC
TI V
E
Heather Koster, MSW, LICSWCayla Rother, LSW, MaEdJyoti Sinha, MSW, LGSW Nancy VanHorne, MSW, LICSW
What does depression and anxiety look like at
different ages from a School perspective?
THE PRE-K YEARS
Depression
Looks bored or listless
Seems left out / rejected
Not interested in activities including play
Not having fun or enthusiastic
Looks sad and tearful
Doesn’t seem to care about anything
Avoids contact with others / rejects others
Seems cranky, irritable or moody
Needs to rest frequently / looks tired
Cries for no apparent reason
Looks angry / argumentative
Hits or fights with others
Physical complaints (head aches, stomach aches)
Anxiety
Has difficulty stopping worries
Worries he will do something embarrassing or “stupid” in front of others
Keeps checking that he has done things right / needs constant reassurance
Tense, restless or irritable due to worrying
Is scared to ask an adult /teacher for help
Is reluctant to go to sleep without you or to sleep away from you / home
Has trouble sleeping due to worrying
Afraid to talk or write in front of others / class
Worried that something bad might happen to him or a parent (kidnapped, lost, sick,
death) so he won’t be able to see you again
Becomes overly distressed about your leaving him at school / daycare (separation)
Physical complaints (head aches, stomach aches)
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
The Elementary Years
Depression
Sadness that won’t go away
Frequent fearfulness
Low self Esteem and guilt
Hopelessness
Irritability
School avoidance
Frequent complaints of aches and pains
Thought of death or suicide
Self-deprecating remarks
Persistent boredom, low energy, or poor concentration
Increased activity
Anxiety
(generalized anxiety disorder, phobias, social phobias, Obsessive-compulsive
disorder, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder)
Absences
Refusal to join in social activities
Isolating behavior
Excessive worry about homework/grades
Physical complaints
Unrealistic, obsessive fears
Tension about everyday life events
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
The Middle Years
Depression
Poor academic motivation
Flat affect or sad demeanor
Social isolation
Pessimism and feelings of hopelessness
Irritability and overreactions
Sleep changes
Fatigue
Somatic complaints
Appetite changes
Loss of interest in activities or school participation
Anxiety
Somatic complaints such as; headaches, stomach aches
& muscle pain
Excessive worry leads to avoidance behaviors; (assignments, class,
attendance, social isolation)
Sleep disturbances
Restless, irritability and frustration
Falling grades
Panic attacks
Frequent bathroom trips
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS*IN ADDITION TO THE OTHER SYMPTOMS EXPLAINED IN
YOUNGER AGES*
The Teen Years
Depression
• Difficulty concentrating
• Sleeping in classes
• Changes in attendance
• Drop in grades
• Sudden frustration with school
• Low energy
• Withdrawl from normal school activities
• Major behavioral changes (defiant, overly moody,
chemical use)
Anxiety
• Frequent somatic complaints
(headaches, stomachaches, etc)
• More visits to the health office
• Drop in grades
• School avoidance
• Panic attacks during the school day
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
WHERE TO GO, WHAT TO DO?
You are the expert when it comes to your child.
However, there are people at your child’s school
who can be helpful, and you should feel comfortable
talking to them.
Why should I talk to someone at my child’s
school?
• School staff members can do a better job of
teaching your child if they know what health
and/or mental health help is needed.
WHO CAN I TALK TO AT MY CHILD’S SCHOOL?
Whoever your starting point is, please know that we work together to figure out who is best to
work on interventions with your child.
• Classroom teacher • Principal or assistant principal
• School nurse • School social worker
• School counselor • Special education case manager
• School psychologist • Transition teacher or specialist
What I say• I’m concerned
• What do you see at home?
• Let me know if I can help
• Have you discussed it with your pediatrician? Did you bring the specifics up during your visit?
What does it mean• We are partners. Please know the
professional saying this believes your child is displaying behavior not typical to his or her peers.
• We are trying to gather information about different settings (home, school, daycare). It helps to determine a course of intervention.
• If you are worried about treatment cost, there are resources in the community I might be able to connect you to.
• Some parents assume the school professional is asking them to medicate their child. Not the case. Medical professionals have knowledge and access to medical resources that are additional to what a school does.
COMMUNICATION
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT FROM THE SCHOOL?
• To be treated as a key partner in your child’s
education and care.
• To get answers to your questions in a
language you can understand, in writing if
you ask for it.
• To be told about any health or behavior or
emotional related problems that happen at
school.
• To have a teacher, school nurse, counselor,
or social worker answer questions about
your child’s needs.
ADVOCATE! We want you to be heard.
If you don’t feel you have been, please feel free to talk to someone else.
WHAT SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE AT MY CHILD’S SCHOOL?
-Social Work Services: resource referral ; collaboration with teachers; short term therapeutic interventions
-School Psychologists, Guidance Counselor, School Nurse are also available
We communicate as a team and schools have a process in place for addressing student needs (Student Assistance Teams, Problem Solving Teams, Response to Intervention).
What are some of the possible
interventions at school to help my
child?-Check ins during the day-Assisting with testing environment (small group testing, or quiet area for testing for test anxiety)-Skill teaching/training-Emotional regulation-Break times/break areas -Support strategies recommended by therapist/doctor
What if those interventions
aren’t enough?
When mental health needs are significantly impacting learning, there is a process in every district to review and determine the best plan of action for your child and their needs.
-Special Education Evaluation-Section 504 Plan