Circle of Support
What do you Know?
Test Yourself
Circle T for statements that you consider true and circle F for those you think are false.
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1.Stress has negative consequences and should be avoided whenever possible.
RESPONSE: Stress is a part of life and often motivates us to action…you are
stressed about a test so you study like crazy to do well…you are stressed about
a situation with a friend so you go talk it out with them…stress causes us to get
things done, stress is a part of our life…it can be a strong motivator and we feel
good when the stress eases up after trying something new.
2. Some common methods of coping with stress can make the situation worse
instead of better.
RESPONSE: How we cope with stress—like procrastinating about a test, or
avoiding doing something about a problem until it becomes a worse problem, or
drinking to avoid the stress can all make the situation worse. Can you think of
any other responses to stress that can make it worse?
3. Suicide attempts usually happen without warning and with no apparent
cause.
RESPONSE: There are usually some warning signs (80% of the time), but
people that see only one or two problems going on aren’t as worried because
we all deal with bits of stress and depression over time. Only when people who
care about the person (such as friends and parents, teachers and other adults or
youth that care about them)start talking about the warning signs that each of
them see, does the bigger picture and more warning signs begin to be seen
leading them to help the young person seek help. When some situation like a
relationship break-up or a close relative dies and the amount of time that this
causes your friend to be depressed stretches out over 2 to three weeks and more,
it is obvious that they are not able to get beyond it and they may need some
assistance.
4. Teenage girls report more depression than teenage boys.
RESPONSE: Girls do report dealing with depression more than boys. Any idea
why this might be?
Females are twice as likely as males to attempt suicide, but males are four times
more likely than females to complete suicides—usually because their methods
of suicide are much less likely to allow time for intervention.
5. A teenager who threatens suicide is only trying to get attention.
RESPONSE: Anytime someone makes the threat or even hints that this is an
option, it must be taken seriously. It is always better to seek help than to blow it
off and find out that they were serious about it.
6. Teenagers with depression are easy to identify because they are quiet,
withdrawn, alone and sad.
RESPONSE: In some cases people may withdraw when they are depressed but
others actually go non-stop not allowing themselves to slow down. Staying so
Circle of Support
Teens Helping Teens
Harlan Community Team
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busy to avoid dealing with depression is a common symptom as much as
withdrawing from friends and activity. Both may be a sign that something
might be wrong if you know they are struggling with an issue.
7. Mild forms of depression are fairly common and diminish with time.
RESPONSE: We all deal with depression when we suffer a loss of a
relationship or loved one or a disappointment. Many times we have the ability
to work through it by ourselves or with the help of family or friends, but when
a person is seriously depressed, the feeling last much longer and are more
intense. It is when this depression begins to last 2-3 weeks and on into a month
and longer that it becomes apparent that you are not able to work through it on
your own and you might be helped by someone with experience helping others
work through depression. This might be your minister, a school counselor or a
mental health counselor. It is not worth it to have to deal with a problem for a
long period of time by yourself if it feels like there is no end in sight.
8. A person with depression sees the world completely differently than a person
who is not depressed.
RESPONSE: When someone is depressed, their brain actually functions
differently and is not able to see a positive future on the other side of the issue
that is creating the depression. We may look at a person and say, “Why doesn’t
he or she just….? It is hard to understand what it is like to feel almost no
energy, to feel drained most of the time and to lose track of what is happening
and may not even remember the cause of their depression.
9. Talking to a person about their suicidal feelings is likely to cause them to
attempt suicide.
RESPONSE: Talking with someone about their suicidal feelings will not cause
them to attempt suicide. You also won’t spark thoughts of suicide by asking
honest questions about what they intend to do about their depression.
10. A very high percentage of young people who make suicide attempts
experienced depression and alcohol abuse at the time of the attempt.
RESPONSE: Alcohol and drugs are often used to deal with emotions of
depression. If during this time of being drunk or high, a teen considers suicide,
11. When teenagers have a problem with depression, they go first to their
friends for help.
RESPONSE: They will share with their friends first how they feel and what
they are thinking about the problem. It is important not to try to fix it for them,
but help them think through some options that they could choose. Be careful
not to dismiss the problem or tell them to just snap out of it. Try to tell them
honestly that you are worried and think that there are adults who really care and
would be willing to help you or help you find someone who could help you
work through this. Remember you do not need to diagnose the person, only
recognize that he or she is in trouble.
12. Sometimes it’s better to be a good listener than to try to solve the problem
for another person.
RESPONSE: When your friends share that they are struggling with a problem,
it is best to listen than to try and solve the problem for them. Sometimes we just
need to hear ourselves talk something out to help with understanding the
problem and how it is affecting us.
13. If a depressed person is really upset one minute and then says, “It’s no big
Circle of Support
Teens Helping Teens
Harlan Community Team
deal,” accept that and go about your business.
RESPONSE: Usually that response does not resolve the problem by just setting
it aside. It also may indicate that they have another option in mind that may not
be positive. Be honest and share how their being upset might frighten you or
worry you.
List two people you could talk to about a youth if you knew they were struggling with a
problem that they just couldn’t seem to get through on their own.
1. ____________________________
2. ____________________________
RESPONSE: This is important for building a strong Circle of Support. People you trust
and who you could go to in getting help to work through something that you have not
been able to work through. We all need friends and adults in our lives that care about us
and would be willing to help us if we asked. We will talk more about who is in your life
willing to support you as your personal Circle of Support in a couple of minutes.
List two agencies that you could share with a youth or their parent where they could go
for help if they need help with handling their depression:
1. __________________________________
2. __________________________________
RESPONSE: It is important for us to realize that that there are places we can go to find
help if we or a friend are struggling with depression. These are mental health
professionals that can help us work through whatever it is causing our depression. We
have a brochure to share with all of you before we are done that was put together by our
Harlan Community Circle of Support Team that lists places and hotline numbers where
teens can get help for their depression.
When done with the discussion of the individual answers, ask if there was anything
that surprised them about the answers.
Circle of Support
Teens Helping Teens
Harlan Community Team