How to know: A Look into Signs, Risk Factors, and Interventions in the Classroom for Children and Youth with Depression and Suicidality

Presentation:  Michèle Pellan Cheng, Sonja Saqui

Session C | 10:15 – 10:25 | Location: Room 310

Abstract:

We often consider depression and suicidal ideation to be adult problems that do not affect children and youth. Actually, according to the Canadian Mental Health Association (2016) approximately 5% of males and 12% of females between the ages of 12 and 19 years have previously had a major depressive episode in the past, and 3.2 million youth of the same age are at risk of developing depression in the future. Additionally, suicide is the second leading cause of death for Canadians between the ages of 15 and 24, and Canada’s youth suicide rate is the third highest in the industrialized world (CMHA, 2016). While many people who are treated for mental illness recover and resume daily activities, only 1 out of 5 Canadian children who require services receives them (CMHA, 2016). Evidently, these children and youth need to be recognized and offered proper care. This presentation will discuss three important topics: the differences between depression and suicidality; the recent and predominant research in these areas; the signs that can be detected by teachers within the classroom, and the risk factors to keep in mind; and finally, the specific interventions for depression and suicidality that can be implemented in the classroom setting.
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