It's My Life . Parents/Teachers . Depression . Printable Discussion Questions

IML Quick Discussion Guide: Depression

Prior to using this Quick Discussion Guide, you and your child may want to do any or all of the following activities on "It's My Life":

Read the "Depression" article.
Work together to come up with a "You Said It" submission for this topic.
Print out the IML Journal page "Depression." Complete it together or encourage your child to complete it on his/her own.
Complete one or more Activities designed to help one explore feelings related to depression.
Print and review the Childhood Depression Checklist to understand signs and symptoms of depression.

Discussion Questions:

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by feelings of emptiness, anxiety, anger or sadness? If so, did you understand what caused those feelings? How long do these feelings last? How do you try to deal with them?
Is there something we can do together that will help you deal with these feelings?
Do you feel like you understand the difference between "feeling sad" and serious depression? When do you think someone should ask for professional help with his or her problems?
Do you feel comfortable talking to me when you're depressed? Are you afraid that if you bring up depression, I won't take you seriously?
Do you ever worry about someone close to you, such as a friend or someone in our family, becoming depressed? What do you think you could do to help him or her?
Why do you think suicide seems like an option for people who are experiencing depression? What do you think your school or our community can do to help prevent suicide?

Remember:
--Be specific. Bring up examples of experiences and incidents, such as something that happened to you at work, or a recent event in your community.

--Emphasize that everyone deals with sadness, and brainstorm ways to manage these feelings. You might consider making a list of these ideas and creating two copies of it, one for each of you to keep handy.