From Cara Bean's Blog:
Adolescents and Depression

Depression is a disorder that many teens that I care about struggle with. I was eager to attend a workshop organized by Randy P. Auerbach, PhD, Director of Child and Adolescent Mood Disorders at McLean Hospital. The workshop was an intensive all day event that provided a lot of food for thought. After reflecting on the concepts that were introduced, I approach the emotional state of my students in a more sensitive and educated manner.

Dr. Auerbach spoke about Causes, Consequences, and Treatment for Adolescent Depression. Christian Webb, MA from the Harvard Medical School talked about Treatments and Prevention of Depression. Pia Pechtel, PhD discussed her research on Maltreatment, Depression and the Adolescent Brain.

The cartoonist in me wanted to illustrate what I was learning and share it with my colleagues and anyone else who might find it useful. I have organized my drawings and notes to break down a portion of the presented ideas. Please keep in mind that this is simply my personal reflection / artistic filter on what I absorbed from the lectures.

If there is a young person in your life that you believe may be clinically depressed, please refer them to professional care. Information about programs for depressed adolescents at McLean Hospital can be found here: http://www.mclean.harvard.edu/patient/child/.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And here are some links to information about the teenage brain:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/teenbrain/
ttp://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124119468
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/health-matters/201006/the-teenager