The Role of Occupational Therapy in the Promotion, Prevention and Intervention of Mental Health with Children and Youth

Depression:

Everyone feels sad or neutral from time to time; even children and teenagers. However, teens who experience prolonged and variable periods of sadness may have more serious medical conditions, such as major depressive or dysthymic disorders. Depression is classified as a mood disorder with cyclical symptoms that may disappear and reappear. These symptoms can inhibit a young person's thoughts, feelings, and behavior;

Considered as one of the most serious diseases in children and adolescents due to its impact on functioning and mental health, depression poses a significant risk for suicide. Two-thirds of young people with symptoms do not seek help and therefore remain unidentified. Symptoms of depression vary by young person and should be evaluated individually. Did you know that suicide is the third leading cause of death between the ages of 10-24? In studies on depression during adolescence in the world, it is observed that diagnoses such as anxiety, bipolar disorder and substance abuse are generally accompanied by, and it has been revealed as a result of studies that suicide is very common due to these psychological reasons.

Some signs of depression that can occur in adolescence include:

• Loss of interest or pleasure in activities and other people

• Difficulty in cognitive tasks, especially concentration and decision making Sudden, permanent behavioral changes such as resistance,

• Family-friends-avoiding school and preferring to be alone,

• Changes in sleep patterns (for example, difficulty falling asleep or waking up early),

• Changes in activity levels (for example, low energy and rapid fatigue or excitability),

• Changes in appetite, such as eating too much or too little,

• Increased feelings of inadequacy, hopelessness and helplessness,

• Insignificance statements and false thoughts of guilt,

Who is at risk of developing a mood disorder such as depression?

Family with major depression, dysthymia or bipolar disorder Children with a history of mood disorders such as

Children experiencing conditions that may include:

Substance use,

High level of conflict/violence,

Abuse,

Occupational therapists play an important role in addressing youth depression because of its negative impact on all occupational areas of daily life. Occupational therapists provide guidance, support, and interventions to youth, families, and other disciplines in a variety of settings, such as home, school, and community.

Children and young people experiencing symptoms of depression may have difficulty in the following performance areas:

Social Engagement

• Isolation due to loss of interest/entertainment, feelings of inadequacy and low energy

• Family stress and tension (may result from the youth's social withdrawal).

Activities of Daily Living (ADL)

• Changes in eating patterns,

• Loss of interest in self-care, such as regularly bathing and/or wearing clean clothes.

Training

• Difficulty with concentration and other cognitive tasks prevents participation and completion of tasks,

p>

• May be labeled as lazy or uninterested,

• May be refusing to go to school, complain of feeling sick often, or want to leave school early

• p>

Work/ Productivity

• Cognitive difficulties similar to school,

• May seem uninterested in tasks,

• Coming to work late or not at all,

• Slow or inefficient work (for example, may misunderstand directions, time management).

Game/ Leisure

• Enjoyed before take free time may show indifference to their grudges.

Sleep/Rest

• such as difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep disruptions in sleep patterns contribute to constant fatigue.

Parents/caregivers should be good observers in the process; In the light of these observations, he/she should apply to ergotherapy consultancy (part of a multidisciplinary team) to increase well-being and develop independence.

_{Read: 0}