Question:
What are the signs and/or symptoms a student may have depression?
Answer:
If you check the DSM-V (somebody just told me there was a new edition
out, but I've not actually looked, so you may only find a DSM-IV), which
is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, you'll find SPECIFIC
characteristics required for a diagnosis of any of the disorders you
list below. I tended toward disliking the medication given to my students,
especially in the inner city because there usually wasn't any follow-up
in terms of therapy. The medication cannot do it all. If your student
has depression, then of course she is going to be flat, passive,
withdrawn. Many students with depression are. Some are exactly
opposite, though... if she's bipolar, she may have a manic period when
she goes totally off the wall.
Many children with depression sleep an extensive amount (and in fact,
that is one of the symptoms of depression). I teach (now) in a private
school located in an inner city area. We get kids from all over the
state, and the majority of the students have some form of emotional
disorder... including depression, bipolar disorder, RAD (Reactive
Attachment Disorder: the child cannot form appropriate relationships
with adults in their life; this is very common with children who are
adopted late in life, were in foster care a lot, or the children who
grew up in Romanian orphanages), just general behavior disorders... We
have a large portion of kids in foster homes, adopted, or group homes
because their parents were unable to care for them... usually for a
negative reason (parent is jailed, drug abuser, child abuser, etc).
Each child is different, and this needs to be considered. You cannot
say "Drugs are good, lets use them." or "Drugs ar ebad, let's not use
them!" Its not that simple. Drugs are also not the only part of the
picture... therapy, appropriate educational environment, and medical
follow-through (blood work, to make sure the drug's levels are correct)
are needed.
