The Adolescent Depression Workbook

Chapter 2 Getting Help

Overview: If the first chapter convinced you that you are depressed, you need help, support and good advice right away. However, when you are depressed, it is often very hard to reach out and get help. But you are worth the effort. This chapter will help guide you through the process of getting help. Information - you need at least one person, but it is best if you have several people, who:

• understand how you are feeling,
• can stay with you,
• will listen to you, and
• will help you find help from health care professionals who have special training in working with people who are depressed.

You may feel like you have no one you could really tell. You are not alone. Many people of all ages feel that way. Feeling scared to talk to people is one of the symptoms of depression. If you have no one you can talk to, read this chapter on how to get help for yourself. When you have gotten help and are feeling better, read Chapter 9,"Friends and Supporters". Who can you tell? You probably feel most comfortable talking to your friends. Telling an understanding friend that you are depressed is fine. However, because depression is a very serious problem, it is best to rely on a trusted adult to get you the help you need. Your friends may never have had any experience with depression and may not understand it. They may give you bad or wrong advice.

Seek out people who can give you good advice, help and support. If you tell a peer that you are depressed and they give you some advice, use your own judgment to decide if it is good advice. Don't give in to pressure from others who are giving you bad advice. Examples of bad advice: "Try drinking or street drugs. They'll make you feel better." "Pack up your things and run away from home." "Drive your car really fast to give yourself a thrill." "You need to get laid. "Helpful Questions to Answers for Yourself:

What are some other examples of bad advice you have gotten from friends?

Information

Who are the adults in your life who may be able to help you and give you good advice about dealing with your depression?

They are people who will:

• listen to you
• let you know they are supportive of you
• help you figure out what to do
• get help for you if you ask them to
• keep what you tell them private unless they need to share the information to keep you safe
• get help for you even if you don't ask them if they think you are in danger

It is not helpful if they:

• blame you (tell you it is your fault)
• give you bad or wrong advice, like "Just pull yourself together and get going"
• criticize you
• judge you
• treat you harshly

Don't give up too easily on people who could help you. Some people will change the way they treat you if you tell them what you need and what you don't need.

The person you ask to help could be:

• *a parent or parents
• *your family doctor
• *a counselor, therapist or mental health professional
• an older brother or sister
• an aunt, uncle, cousin or grandparent
• teacher
• *a school counselor
• *a school nurse or school physician
• *a minister, priest, rabbi or other religious counselor
• a family friend

(*best choices if they meet the criteria listed above)

Things to Do List the person or people you are going to tell how you feel and ask for help:

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