Understanding Depression and Low Mood in Young People
Understand how to recognise depression and low mood in teenagers and learn how to help.
Who is the course for?
The course has been specifically created for parents of young people with depression and low mood, teachers and primary (or other) healthcare professionals who play a role in detecting mental health difficulties and offering appropriate support and guidance to young people.
What topics will you cover?
Week 1: What does problematic low mood and depression look like?
Recognising the symptoms and causes of depression in young people
The impact on parents and carers
Understanding self-harm and minimising risk
Seeking help and treatment options
Week 2: Healthy habits for young people
Identifying the foundations of good mental health
Exploring the importance of sleep, eating, and physical activity
Week 3: Doing more of what matters
Introducing the concept of behavioural activation for young people
How to monitor activity and increase valued activities to get more reward from life
How to manage different views of what is a valued activity
Giving positive reinforcement and rewards
Week 4: Challenging thoughts
How thinking tricks us and keeps us stuck in low mood
Challenging thoughts
Helping your child find the facts, face the facts
Understanding that adults have negative thoughts too
Week 5: Family Communication & Self-Care, Planning for the Future and Getting More Help
Looking after yourself
Managing conflict
Dealing with communication problems and stress
Planning for the future, dealing with setbacks and solving problems
Getting more help
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to…
Understand the key signs and symptoms of adolescent depression and how it may present itself
Identify how depression differs from low mood and other ‘normal’ mood fluctuations in teenagers
Describe key environmental and lifestyle factors which may contribute to depression in teenagers
Discuss what teenagers and carers can do to promote a healthier lifestyle within the family
Understand how a psychological approach can help us to better understand depression
Understand CBT and other key strategies that can be helpful for low mood
