Depression and Mental Health

Coping with Stress during COVID-19

Students (and teachers) can be stressed out even during the best of times. The COVID-19 pandemic has made stress pretty much universal, even for younger students.

This post outlines specific coping ideas, suggestions, and signs-to-watch-for in adults, children and teenagers. Worth a few minutes of your time.

Teenager's Guide to Depression

This resource provides teenagers with tips and tools for helping themselves or a friend.

What Is Depression?

PBS has developed this lesson plan for grades 9-12. In the lesson, students examine teenage depression: what it's all about, how it feels, and ways to deal with it. The goal is to give students a better understanding of depression and how it relates to their own lives. Takes one or two 50-minute class periods.

School Psychologist Files

Any School Psychologist has a filing cabinet filled with resources and various information on a wide variety of topics. It is part of the school psychologist's role to share information in a helpful manner to teachers, parents, and other professionals.

This site is an online filing cabinet for anyone to explore, compiled by Erin N. King, Ed.S., a Nationally Certified School Psychologist in Virginia.

We especially appreciate the Blog entries.

Depression Resources - Tiny Buddha

Not everyone is comfortable opening up or talking with a professional. Tiny Buddha (not a site about the religion) posts curated stories, tips, and insights from readers of all ages and from all over the globe on a variety of personal topics, from happiness and relationships to addictions, grief, ... and dealing with depression.

A good resource for yourself, colleges, parents and older students when they "just don't want to talk about it".

Youth Mental Health First Aid classes

Youth Mental Health First Aid is a one day course designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, and others how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health issue or is in crisis. What to say, what NOT to say, how to cope and when to act are some of the topics covered.

This course is offered thru out the U.S. and is usually free (use the Find A Course link). An Adult Mental Health First Aid course is also available. Highly recommended by our webmaster, who has gone thru the course.

Parent's Guide to Teen Depression

As a concerned parent, teacher, or friend, there are many ways you can identify and help a teen suffering from depression. Covers identification, treatment, and the importance of self care and family care.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health National Helpline

SAMHSA's National Helpline, 1-800-662-4357 (HELP), TTY: 1-800-487-4889, is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations. Callers can also order free publications and other information.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Check with your local city or county health department to see what on-line or telephone resources they provide.

Conflict Resolution Education Connection

The Conflict Resolution Education Connection is divided into sections by group such as teachers and administrators. You can find classroom activities ,video resources and administrator how-to guides.

Let's Call Mental Health Stigma What It Really Is: Discrimination

This article by Lindsay Holmes looks at how we approach mental health and posits that society's reaction amounts to discrimination.

Her proposition is that society's outlook on mental illness doesn't just result in negative stereotyping, as the term "stigma" implies, but it results in behaviors and policies that actually makes life more difficult for those with mental health challenges. A textbook definition of discrimination.

Solutions include changing the language surrounding mental illness, providing more mental health training for police and first responders, more policies that help people with mental illness get the care they need, and more workplace acceptance and initiatives that support individuals dealing with a psychological issue.

Baltimore County Public Schools Psychological Services

Here's an example of a local resource available to schools in Baltimore County. In addition to local services, it provides a list of web resources.

Check with your own district or county office to see what's available for your school.

U.S. Office of Education

The U.S. Department of Education includes resources for juvenile justice and family issues.