Glencoe Health © 2007

Introduction:
What do you do if your friend tells you he or she is thinking about suicide, but makes you promise not to tell anyone? This lesson is about anxiety and depression, conditions that everyone experiences at one time or another. However, when these feelings become overwhelming or last a long time, it is time to seek help. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has written a special guide for teens, so they can identify possible depression among their friends…and maybe even themselves.

Links to Explore:
NIMH—What to Do When a Friend Is Depressed: Guide for Students
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/friend.cfm

Directions

• Click on the NIMH link and read the guide about what to do when a friend is depressed.
• Then answer the following questions:

1.			Your friend tells you he or she is feeling down in the dumps. When is it time for him or her to check whether clinical depression is the cause?
2.			What are three of the causes of clinical depression?
3.			How can you help a depressed friend?
4.			Can drinking or taking drugs be a sign of depression?
5.			What should you do if a friend talks about suicide or has frequent thoughts of death?