Facts for Families: Sadness, Depression, and Mood Regulation

Description

Facts for Families: Sadness, Depression, and Mood Regulation helps you to identify the signs and symptoms and know what you can do to help.

If you identify someone struggling with depression, some things that you can do to help include:

• Promote healthy choices
• Help find coping strategies such as journaling or affirmations
• Provide a safe place to talk
• Maintain a positive relationship
• Encourage talking about their concerns but never force the conversation
• Break tasks into smaller parts so they’re not overwhelmed
• Help with positive self-talk
• Encourage social activities and exercise
• Practice mindfulness
• Put together a coping toolbox to include stress balls, music etc.
• Ask questions to help understand how they feel & what they are experiencing
• Never dismiss them by saying: “You will get over it” or “It’s just part of growing up”

This resource is part of the Depression series of Early Intervention resources developed by Miami University’s Center for School-Based Mental Health Programs(CSBMHP) and the Ohio Mental Health Network for School Success (OMHNSS) as part of the Early Intervention Initiative (funded by the Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services, grant #2200368, https://mha.ohio.gov/).