MENTAL HEALTH
diagnosing
depression
in teens
WHAT PARENTS CAN DO TO PROTECT THEIR CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH
18
AUGUST 2017 | (201) FAMILY
“Academic failure and attendance
problems indicate an underlying issue,”
Franceski says. “We always speak to
these students to find out what’s going
on in their lives.”
Gale Mangold, the student assistance
counselor at Pascack Hills, provides
prevention, invention, referral and
support for those suffering from
anxiety, depression, drug and alcohol
abuse and conflict.
WHY IS YOUR TEEN DEPRESSED?
Dr. Elizabeth Crowley, a psychiatrist
with a private practice in Ramsey,
notes that there can be a biological
component to depression.
“The more family members who
suffer from depression, the more likely
you are to have it,” she says. “Illness
and trauma, such as a concussion, can
all contribute to depression. Sometimes
it is clear, and sometimes you can’t
always find an exact reason.”
Crowley adds that teenagers are
under a lot of stress these days.
“They are expected to take multiple
AP classes, participate in sports and
community service, and as a result
of social media, they get no break,” >
S
uicide is the second lead-
ing cause of death amongst
teens in the United States.
A growing number of high
school students are being
diagnosed with depression
and anxiety. Substance abuse is often
coexistent with these conditions. What
can we do as parents and as a commu-
nity to prevent, identify and help?
Two local high schools are doing
something about it. Pascack Hills
High School in Montvale and Pascack
Valley High School in Hillsdale, which
comprise the Pascack Valley School
District, both established wellness
centers.
“Mental health is for everyone,” Erica
Franceski, the student family resource
liaison at Pascack Hills, says. “We are
trying to teach coping skills to everyone.
We are teaching it as a culture – take
good care of your mental health. The
center is a real benefit. It is accessible
to all kids. We are trying to normalize
mental health and make it part of the
conversation.”
Students and parents can make
appointments with the wellness centers.
And the centers also do outreach.
When a child is moody and mono-
syllabic, parents are often confused
and wonder if it’s “normal” teenage
behavior or a sign of depression. School
personnel can sometimes see things
more objectively.
WRITTEN BY LESLIE PERLMUTTER