Student Worksheet, Page 1

Name:_______________________________

Info Exchange:

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Depression and
Signs of Depression

Depression is serious and help is available. Just like stress,

the first step is to recognize the signs of depression.

No energy or motivation
Exhausted
Physical aches and pains
Unable to concentrate
Loss of appetite
Acting uncharacteristically happy after periods
of showing other signs of depression
Sleeping problems
Difficulty making decisions
Episodes of memory loss
Apathy
Loss of interest or pleasure in activities that
were once fun
Thinking or talking about hurting oneself,
suicide, or death
Acting-out or irresponsible behaviors, such as
missing curfews, unusual defiance, shoplifting,
missing school
Poor school performance, grades dropping
Withdrawing from family and friends, spending
more time alone
Using alcohol or other illegal substances
Feeling worthless, guilty, or just wrong in
some way
Crying a lot

Getting Help

Negative thinking
Things will never get better.
Problems are too big to solve.
Nothing can improve the situation.
Nothing matters.
I cant do anything right.
Why go on living? No one would miss me.
Nothing seems fun anymore.
I dont see any point in trying.

You can get help anywhere in the United States,

24 hours a day, 7 days a week: 1-800-SUICIDE
(1-800-784-2433) or 1-800-999-9999 or
1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255).

If you recognize signs of depression in

yourself or someone you care about, help is
close by through trusted adults, counselors
and other professionals, and hotlines.
If stress and depression seem overwhelming
and you or someone you care about has
thoughts of harming themselves, get help
immediately.
Copyright 2013

Negative feelings and mood for weeks or more

Sad
Discouraged
Defeated
Hopeless
Helpless
Alone
Guilty
Rejected
Irritable
Easily annoyed
Alienated
Anger

Warning signs of suicide include:

expressing hopelessness for the future
giving up on ones self, talking as if no one else cares
preparing for death, giving away favorite possessions,
writing goodbye letters, or making a will
starting to use or abuse alcohol or other drugs to aid
sleep or for emotional relief
threatening to kill or hurt ones self
withdrawing, wanting to be alone and isolated

Unit 2Social/Emotional

Lesson 4

Student Worksheet, Page 2

Name:_______________________________

What You Can Do

to Help a Friend or Family Member

Use your interpersonal communication skills: listen,

ask effective questions, respond to his or her

emotions.
Offer to help him or her by locating resources in your
community, such as counselors.

What You Can Do

to Help Yourself

Talk with a trusted adult or call your

If suicide is a concern:
Ask directly if he or she is considering hurting him or

herself or thinking about suicide. Ask whether he or

she has made a specific plan and has done anything
to carry it out. Listen openly; tell the person you care
deeply, and that no matter how overwhelming his
or her problems seem, help is available. Then, find
someone trained to help.

If the person has a detailed plan or will not talk, he or

she could be in immediate danger and it is important

to get help right away. Stay with the person, and
seek help immediately. Take the person to a hospital
emergency room if necessary.

local crisis intervention or center or

a hot line. Do it immediately if you
have thoughts of hurting yourself.
No matter how overwhelming your
problems seem, there is a solution
and help is available.

Trained, caring adults can help

you to find alternatives you may

not have considered and solutions
to problems or situations that may
seem hopeless. Effective treatments
are available that will help to relieve
your sadness, anger, and pain.

Even if your friend or family member will get angry,

talk with an adult you trust about the situation so that

you dont feel like the only person who knows and is
trying to help. Do not try to rescue the person or be
a hero and try to handle the situation on your own.
You may not be able to. Often, you can be the most
help by referring the person to someone with
the professional skills to provide the help
that he or she needs, while you continue
to offer support.

Copyright 2013

Sources:
Nemours Foundation: http://kidshealth.org
Helpguide: http://helpguide.org/
U.S. National Library of Medicine:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth
American Psychological Association:
http://www.apa.org

Unit 2Social/Emotional

Lesson 4

Student Worksheet, Page 3

Name:_______________________________

Who to Turn to and Where to Go for Help

List people or services you know who offer help.
Organizations
Include phone number or web address and an
explanation of why this is a reliable resource

People

Show your strength!

Get help for yourself and offer help to others when needed.
Name of the adult you spoke with:
Relationship of the adult to you, such as parent, teacher, neighbor:
Copyright 2013

Unit 2Social/Emotional

Lesson 4