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Immediate Resources

For a child's medical emergency, call 911. Request transfer to an emergency room located within a hospital that has a pediatric psychiatric unit so the youth is NOT placed with adult patients. Facilities around Boston include Children's Hospital Boston, Metro West Medical Center, or the Franciscan Hospital for Children.

Samariteens is dedicated to assisting teens in despair. From 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays, and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends, this service is staffed by volunteers between the ages of 15 and 18; outside those hours, calls are answered by adult volunteers. 1-800-252 TEEN (8336)

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 / 7 at (800) 273-8255; Espanol (888) 628-9454; hearing impaired TTY (800) 799-4889.

Riverside Community Care helps Massachusetts communities learn depression prevention and also best practices coping with the aftermath of tragic events. Their 24 hour emergency number is (781) 769-8674 and their regular number is (781) 329-0909. Currently 60 communities contract with Riverside.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (www.afsp.org) has a website section for survivors on coping.

Information You Should Know

Assistance finding the right health care provider near Wellesley! Help is provided Monday through Friday from 9am - 5pm by calling (617) 332-3666 x411. Click here for details.

All parents should request that their pediatrician use the Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC-Jellinek) instrument during each office visit for ages 4 through 16. (Various languages, child & adult versions)

Did you know that your pediatrician is the primary contact for your child's mental health; they get answers while you are in their office by calling Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Project.

Throughout Massachusetts, the Social Work Therapy Referral Service at (617) 720-2828 matches consumer needs with local social workers.

Break Free From Depression site with prevention resources

Written by and for kids, the Depression Experience Journal is a safe web site maintained by Children's Hospital Boston.

Link to Amazon for newest release by Dr. Cynthia Kaplan of McLean Hospital, titled 'Helping Your Troubled Teen (Learn to Recognize, Understand, and Address the Destructive Behavior of Today's Teens and Preteens). A resident of Wellesley, MA, Dr. Kaplan helped create 'An Adolescent Mental Health & Wellness Curriculum: A Starter Kit For Schools'.

Beyond age 5, depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide

Summary: Major depression is the leading cause of disability (measured by the number of years lived with a disabling condition) worldwide among persons age 5 and older. The Global Burden of Disease study (conducted by the World Health Organization, the World Bank, and Harvard University) developed a single measure to allow comparison of the burden of disease regardless of whether the years were lost to premature death or disability. (NIH Pub. 01-4586)

Half of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin by age 14 (NIMH)

Mood disorders account for majority of deaths by suicide

The National Strategy for Suicide Prevention is a collaborative effort of SAMSHA, CDC, NIH, HRSA and IHS. Three studies of adolescents found prevalence estimates for "mood disorders" or "affective disorders" of 61%, 63%, and 67% respectively (Shaffer et al., 1996; Brent et al. 1988; Marttunen et al., 1992).

80% of adolescent suicides are boys

15- to 19-year-olds boys are about four times as likely to commit suicide than are girls

Useful Links

Depression: True Stories video and booklet by Blake Works

McLean Hospital develops equipment to accurately diagnose and treat ADHD; finds a third of kids are mis-diagnosed.

Families for Depression Awareness offers resources including an online support community in which you may register.

While depression is one of the most common, severe and least detected mental illnesses among young people, early recognition can lead to successful treatment outcomes. The Swensrud Depression Prevention Initiative at Children's Hospital Boston is working with communities to address depression in young people. Toolkits and workshops are available on prevention, earlier diagnosis and referral.

Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention (MCSP) works toward awareness and community action preventing suicide and self-injury.

Screening for Mental Health, founded by Dr. Douglas Jacobs

Short video for girls on impossible perfection illustrating how unrealistic media images are created.(Dove)

MGH clinicians joined forces with educators and parents to launch www.schoolpsychiatry.org, a website targeted to educators, clinicians and parents of children with mental health diagnoses.