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Warning
Signs
1. Feeling very sad or with-
drawn for more than 2 weeks
2. Severe mood swings that
cause problems in relation-
ships
National Alliance on
Mental Health
Depression,
called major depres-
sion or clinical depression, is a mood disorder
which causes the person effected to be in a consistently
low mood.
It can also cause a loss of interest in usually enjoyable
activities and an increase in low self-esteem. As of right now, we don’t know
the exact cause of depression, but we do know that life events
and having other family members with depression increases the
chances of getting it. This mental illness is one of the most com-
mon in the United States, and according to National Institute of
Mental Health, 12.5 percent of adolescents ages 12-17 have de-
pression. In talking to Allison Hammond, who was diagnosed in
6th grade, I learned more about how it can affect people’s lives.
“It’s affected me since about 4th grade. It’s made focusing on school extremely
difficult.” In asking about how she copes with it, she said that she really doesn’t.
“I guess I just try distracting myself with dark humor.” However, depression
doesn’t just affect a person’s mood, it also makes socializing a very draining
task, according to Allison Hammond. “It has also made socializing an absolute
chore. Who can worry about keeping friends happy when you can’t stay happy
yourself?” With any mental illness, there are stereotypes and misconceptions,
and when asking her what she wished people knew about it, she
responded with, “[For people with depression], social-
izing is honestly so exhausting, and being
depressed is so much more than
just being sad.”
Allison Hammond
By Sonia Tallroth
Being a friend is very tough. Being a friend of
someone with a mental illness is even tougher said school
social worker Mrs. Debbie Strick. She stresses the importance of listen-
ing to someone with a mental illness. She says you should never give up on them,
and you should never ignore them because of their condition. Your
friend might become very solitary, and they might refuse your invita-
tions to hang out; even if they never accept your invitations, don’t
stop inviting them. It will make them feel left out, Strick says. Strick
also mentioned that your friend with a mental illness could be more
irritable, so try not to get distressed if they upset you. If you fear your
friend is going to hurt themselves, never ever ignore the situation.
Instead, there are multiple ways to help your friend. If you can, make
sure you tell an adult about your concerns. Whether it is your counselor or a parent, a
trusted adult will at least have an understanding of what to do next. If you fear your
friend is in immediate danger, you can call the police, who will send a specially trained
officer to your friend’s location, you can call a crisis hotline at 1-800-273-8255, or
text HELLO to the number:741741 at any time. The Fox Cities community, as well as
Appleton North, has many different resources for people who have a mental illness.
This includes some support groups that are run through the counseling office, and a
NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) support group that is held at the
Boys & Girls Club. “Teens feel like this is it and it can’t get better,”
said Strick. It’s important that you realize that you aren’t
the only one struggling with a mental illness.
Don’t struggle alone.
Mrs. Strick
By Sarah Fleming
As a psychology teacher and advisor of Psych Club at Ap-
pleton North, Mr. Eastman has beneficial insight on mental wellness.
When most ponder about mental wellness, they think of mental illness, anxiety,
and depression. However, Mr. Eric Eastman says that mental wellness regards the posi-
tive components in a person, like high self-esteem and an overall optimistic view on
life. Good mental wellness begins with three things: a good night’s sleep, regular ex-
ercise, and healthy eating. Nevertheless, how does one really know
if they have mental wellness issues? There are plenty of signs for
substandard mental wellness, such as not thinking rationally, feeling
“down in the dumps”, having a hard time sleeping, suddenly having a
difficult time getting up in the morning, and starting to dislike things
that used to bring about joy. If one believes they may be experiencing
some of these symptoms, there are many things to do to receive help.
Essentially, one should seek the closest people in their life to sup-
port them. Appleton North also offers great support system for students. Students can
always go talk to and share their issues with our two counselors, Mrs. Strick and Mrs.
Davis or simply any teacher who they trust. As Mr. Eastman said, “It (mental wellness)
is not something you want to mess around with.” Ultimately, he wants all students who
struggle with mental wellness issues to know, “that it does get better.” Mr. Eastman
suffered from OCD, depression, and anxiety issues in middle school and is
proof that one can go back to feeling normal again.
Mr. Eastman
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