World Health Day – and Depression in the Classroom

World Health Day is celebrated every year on April 7, the founding day of the World Health Organization (WHO). Each year’s theme is designed to draw attention to a current world health issue. The theme for 2017 is Depression: Let’s Talk. This is a particularly germane and timely theme for those of us in the educational world, as depression has a marked effect on teens’ attendance, grades, assignments, and ability to learn.

Increase in Teen Depression

A study of national trends in depression among adolescents and young adults published in the journal Pediatrics reported a 37% increase (since 2005) in U.S. teens who suffered a major depressive episode in the previous 12 months. As of 2014, that number translated to 2.8 million children, age 12-17. With the trend continuing, the number is likely to be 4 million this year.

The Department of Health and Human Services says that approximately 1 out of 3 adolescents shows symptoms of depression. The website called TeenHelp adds that as many as 8.3% of teens suffer depression for at least a year at a time.

The Pediatrics study also notes that mental health treatment for this age group has not increased at a corresponding rate. We can therefore conclude that many of our students who are affected by depression are under-treated or not treated at all. 

The Effects of Depression on Teens

We know that depression causes sadness and lethargy. It can permeate a teen’s life, affecting how they think and behave, and causing them to lose interest in school, activities and even friendships. More than 2 million teens report that depression impairs their daily function. In many cases, it can lead to drastic measures, such as self-harm or suicide. Suicide is now the second leading cause of death for adolescents aged 15 to 19 years.

The Mayo Clinic cites issues such as peer pressure, academic expectations and physical and hormonal changes as the primary causes of teen depression. Time also says family issues can exacerbate the problem, and adds that depression is a phenomenon that cuts across all demographics, but that girls are more at risk than boys.

Looks for these warning signs in your students, which could indicate depression:

• Increased number of absences
• Difficulty concentrating
• Loss of interest in activities
• Inability to complete assignments
• Forgetfulness and short-term memory loss
• Emotional outbursts and hypersensitivity
• Sleepiness, or feeling sick

You Can Help

Educators can play a significant role in identifying symptoms of depression in their students – and taking action to address the situation. As with many illnesses, early diagnosis and treatment can make a big difference.

Check out these resources for addressing depression in your classroom or school:

• Classroom Strategies for Helping Depressed Teen Students
• School and Classroom Strategies: Depression

World Health Day, April 7, also gives you the perfect opportunity for an open classroom discussion on this important topic!

World Health Day Resources

The WHO sponsors local and international events on World Health Day, and provides resources to help schools and other organizations join the campaign. Visit the WHO website for helpful information and resources:

• The Campaign Toolkit provides basic information and a downloadable event guide.
• The main Depression Campaign page offers interactive resources to guide your school’s activities, including a campaign app, templates to create customized messages to share, and a search tool to find activities near you.
• Downloadable handouts about depression

Additional Resources

• Publications from the National Institute of Mental Health
• From the CDC: Feelin' Frazzled – 10 tips to keep you cool, calm, and collected
• The CDC also has resources for suicide prevention
• Suicide Prevention Resource Center