Magazine May 2014 | Page 23

Social Worker, Lisa Graika;

1.)When you first meet a patient that claims that they have depression, what is your first course of action?

If it is in my job, I ask them a variety of questions: how long they have felt that way; to describe their feelings; symptoms; thoughts of hurting themselves; coping strategies; support system. I also validate their emotions; provide empathy; give them hope that they can feel better in the future; and give them resources.

2.)Based on what you have witnessed, what do you think is the main cause for depression in teenagers? Adults?

In general there can be various causes of depression: chemical imbalance in brain; genetics; traumatic brain injury; substance use. Other contributing factors are: family turmoil; financial issues; overwhelming stress; chronic illness or other health issues. For teenagers, I see a lot of stress with family, school, friends – that is often minimized by others (i.e., people think teenagers don’t experience strong emotions and that they should not have stress).

3.)Do you think depression is an over-exaggerated thing or do you think it is a serious illness? Why?

I think depression is a serious condition that needs attention. Unaddressed depression can affect relationships, school, work, and overall well-being; unfortunately it can also lead to thoughts of suicide.