The Parent Handbook on Childhood and Teen Depression
Many parents don’t know the signs of teen depression or where to turn for help. Understanding exactly what’s going on with your child, finding the right treatment, dealing with the schools, negotiating insurance issues – all are challenges that parents face when their child is suffering from depression.
Our handbook is designed to help – with practical ideas written in an easy to read style, we are here to help you. This is a parent-to-parent guide and contains ideas that we have found helpful – ideas that we hope will be of some help to you as you deal with this difficult time in your family’s life.
Bookmark
Looking for a way to refer people to the Parent Handbook? Download and print our Parent Handbook bookmark, which has information in both English and Spanish and provides information on how to access this resource. This is a great handout for schools, clinics and other settings.
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A Practical Guide
The first section of the parent handbook includes suggestions on what to do and how to do it. It includes practical information about:
- How to find out whether your child has depression
- How to find the right help
- How to get treatment
- How to talk to your child
- How to talk to your family
- How to manage the school day
- How to deal with insurance issues
A Primer
The second section of the parent handbook includes the things you might want to know about depression, mental health care professionals and potential treatments. It is the textbook-like section of the handbook, to be read when you want more information about the details of the illness and the kinds of help available.
Mental Health and Happiness
The third section of the parent handbook looks at strategies for achieving good mental health and happiness. It includes information about:
- Exercise
- Nutrition
- Sleep
- Practicing gratitude
- Being mindful
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