Adolescent Depression and Suicide

Increasing Understanding to Enhance Intervention

by Linda Baker, Lynda Ashbourne, and Cindy Male (2002). A resource funded by Ontario's Ministry of Community, Family and Children's Services. As many as 8% of adolescents are affected by severe depression. This booklet presents the indicators of depression, factors to consider when evaluating risk for suicide, approaches for supporting depressed adolescents, and intervention strategies. Factors to consider when evaluating risk for suicide include intent, plan, method, behaviour, substance use, history, and trigger events. There are two real-life testimonials, from a 14-year old boy and the mother of an adolescent girl.

Table of Contents

• Why you need to know about adolescent suicide and depression

• When sadness becomes depression

• Mood disorders that involve major depression

  • reactive depression

  • major depressive disorder

  • dysthymia

  • bipolar disorder

• Recognizing depression

  • what you or others might see

  • what the youth may report

  • when to refer for assessment

• What causes depression?

• Myths and facts about depression and suicide

• Evaluating suicide risk in boys and girls

• Predictors for girls and boys,contagion effect, and deterrents...

• Inside depression: An adolescent's experience

• Factors to consider when evaluating risk for suicide

• From the outside looking in: A mother's concern

• What treatment is recommended for adolescent depression?

• What can you do?

• Strategies for intervening

• Resources and references

Ordering Information

Copies can be ordered. See our Publication Order Form for details.

SIGMA Series

Check out the other four booklets in the SIGMA series:

• Conferencing for Youth

• Peer-to-Peer Aggression in Residential Settings ---> available for download

• Adolescent Relationship Violence

• Ambiguous Loss in Adolescents ---> available for download