Childhood Depression and Implications for the Classroom
 From the January 2002 Education newsletter.
There's another hidden disability in the classroom: depression. In fact depression can be so hidden that often parents don't know about it, says Stuart Copans, a child psychiatrist from Brattleboro, VT. Dr. Copans notes that suicide can occur even among pre-adolescents. Often, in those situations, parents were not even aware that their child was depressed. Because of the large amount of time teachers spend with students in their classroom, teachers can play an important role identifying and helping students struggling with the condition.
First of all, Dr. Copans emphasizes, teachers help parents and caregivers realize that children can be depressed. They can spot symptoms of possible depression in their students and help them get an evaluation.
Signs of depression in children and adolescents include:
- Irritability
- Fatigue
- Social anxiety
- Sudden drop in grades
- In addition to these outward signs, children who have recently moved or whose parents have divorced are at increased risk for depression. (For this reason, Dr. Copans recommends that schools establish special programs to help children who are new to the school or whose parents are divorcing.)
If teachers or school administrators suspect that a student is depressed, they should discuss their concerns with the parents or caregivers. The next step is to refer the student to the school counselor, if one exists, or to an outside professional for evaluation and treatment. Teachers should also keep in touch with the physician or therapist who is treating the child in order to provide feedback on how the child is doing.
Teachers should also keep the following tips in mind when teaching a student who is depressed:
- Depression impairs students' ability to learn and concentrate. They will probably work more slowly than other students. Teachers can either shorten assignments or allow more time for them to be completed.
- Children and adolescents who are depressed are more sensitive to criticism. "They tend to see the world in the opposite of rose-colored glasses," Dr. Copans explains. "Put corrections in the context of a lot of praise and support. Decide what battles to fight when."
- Sometimes it helps if a student's depression is discussed, with the student's and parents' permission, with the entire class. "We still act as if there's a stigma," says Dr. Copans. "Talking about it with the class, just like you would about broken bones, can sometimes help kids."
- Above all, Dr. Copans advises all teachers to "create a classroom where kids aren't mean. Find students' strengths and focus on them. Self-esteem is important [in preventing depression]."
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