Red Flags: Depression Awareness Program
Joining Forces for Children is a collaboration of several agencies, organizations and individuals who work to develop solutions to mental health needs through four work groups. One of the first things the Early Identification Work Group did was select an effective depression awareness program. Red Flags was piloted in four middle schools during the 2003-04 school year, and currently the program is being presented to Peoria’s four high schools and the Alternative High School.
Until recently it was believed that children did not experience depression. We now know that even infants can suffer from depression. It is not normal for children to be painfully shy, always unhappy, frequently violent or angry. Most children will not outgrow these chronic symptoms. Researchers believe all depression can be linked to biochemical changes in the brain and recently professionals have estimated that 12% of adolescents experience clinical depression each year.
Red Flags in Behavior
- Irritability, unprovoked anger
- Significant weight gain or loss
- Unmerited feelings of being “stupid” or “bad”
- Reluctance to attend school
- Difficulty with relationships
- Social isolation
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Sudden drop in grades or change of behavior
- Cutting, self-injury, threats of self-harm
Red Flags is a universal prevention program that is school based. It was developed under the leadership of the Ohio Department of Mental Health, and helps students, parents and school staff members recognize and respond to signs of depression and related mental illnesses. A video-based curriculum for students called “Claire’s Story: A Child’s Perspective of Childhood Depression” a seminar for parents, and a training session for a school’s entire staff insure that everyone gets the message.
If your school is not already implementing a mental health program, contact your principal about Red Flags. For more information,