RE: SOCW6111 (Discussion 2) Response to 2 Students

Depression and Suicide Intervention

When working with adolescents you will likely be faced with issues of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation and even attempts. For youth between the ages of 10 and 24, suicide is the third leading cause of death in the United States (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012). It is essential to understand the risks associated with teen suicide and intervention strategies to address this issue.

Respond to at least two colleagues who identified a different client and provide feedback and/or support.

Support your responses with specific references to the Learning Resources. Be sure to provide full APA citations for your references. BE sure to be detailed and ask question to student.

Response to Hilda

The literature, Outcomes for Youths From Racial-Ethnic Minority Groups in a Quality Improvement Intervention for Depression Treatment studied the affects of adding mental health resources during primary care visits for adolescences.

The study found medical facilities had on-site mental health resources, but the doctors treating adolescents were not trained properly and not referring adolescents. According to Ngo, Asarnow, Lange, Jaycox, Rea, Landon, Tang & Miranda (2009) “they did not have access to providers who were trained in a quality improvement model that included CBT or care management services” (p.1358). This was especially true for adolescents who self-identified as African American or Latino.

Each medical center was provided a case management team. The head of the team was a master’s or doctoral-level care manager. The team was trained in CBT for depression, treatment modalities (CBT, medication, combined CBT and medication, care management follow-up, and referral), and cultural concepts such as “simpatico” —(warm and caring interactions that emphasize understanding and concern for the welfare of the entire family) (Ngo et al., 2009). The team worked together to provide mental health services to adolescents who normally would not be provided services.

The results show a great reduction in depression in African American adolescents, and also exemplifies an improvement in satisfaction in Latino adolescents. The article was very informative and educational. The article concentration was on minorities, but I found it to be useful for all adolescents.

The intervention can be used in the Brady case. The doctor would evaluate Brady’s mental health condition during a primary care visit and if needed refer him to the care team. His father was against his son being tested and/or treated. If his primary doctor was trained and the care team was in place he could have received treatment sooner. This possibly may have prevented child services from becoming involved. Brady would have been referred to the mental health service in the same office. The team would have worked together and determined the best combination of treatment for him. This may consist of therapy, medicine, or a combination of both. The father may have been more receptive to the suggestion of treatment coming from his primary physician.

Bradly is at risk for suicide due to the unresolved feeling of the death of his mother. He is also experiencing problems in school and with the relationship with his father. The intervention I would provide is the Quality Improvement Intervention for Depression Treatment outline in the study. The father is not receptive to mental health treatment for his son. The son also displayed signs of learning issues along with emotional issues. The intervention would consist of a medical evaluation by the primary care doctor and sessions with the case manager for emotional evaluation and treatment. I would also provide group/peer support and access to the team crisis line.

References

Ngo V., Asarnow J., Lange J. Jaycox L., Rea M., Landon C., Tang L., Miranda J., (2009). Outcomes for Youths From Racial-Ethnic Minority Groups in a Quality Improvement Intervention for Depression Treatment. 60(10),1357-1364; American Psychiatric Association.

Plummer, S.B., Makris, S., & Brocksen, S. M. (Eds.). (2014). Sessions: case histories. Baltimore, MD: Laureate International Universities Publishing. [Vital Source e-reader].The Bradley Family (pp. 17–19)

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Response to Alecia

Post a review of the literature on adolescent depression and suicide and identify an evidence-based intervention that addresses these issues.

The article that I read was Improving Care for Depression & Suicide Risk in Adolescents: Innovative Strategies for Bringing Treatments to Community Settings. The article is about the interventions and services for depression and suicide prevention among adolescents, with the goals of placing this science within the context of current changing health care environments and highlighting innovative models for improving health and mental health (Berona, Horwitz, Czyz, & King, 2017).

Then, apply that intervention to either the Brady or Tiffani case.

This intervention would work in the case of Brady because there are some needed changes in his environment that could help to improve his situation. His father could learn of better ways to interact with Brady. Brady can also learn how to deal with is immaturity in a more mature way.

Describe the possible risk factors the client presents that would make him or her at risk for depression and suicide.

The risk factors that would put Brady at risk for depression and suicide is if his relationship with his father doesn’t improve. Brady is an adolescent he has some intelligence and emotional disabilities and may not understand in a way that a child that doesn’t have this disability does (Plummer, Makris & Brocksen, 2014. It takes some patients, compassion and understanding to be able to work with Brady. His dad has his own issues and can be mean and this does not help Brady or him at all. The onset of depression can include changes in hormone levels, certain medical conditions, stress, grief or difficult life circumstances and this situation has all those potentials.

Then, plan an intervention for that client to address these issues.

An intervention that I would use for the client would be prescriptive treatment and counseling. With prescribe medication from a qualified clinician it could help the minor to deal with their depression. The counseling sessions would be support and have their input in their therapeutic recover.

References

Berona, J., Horwitz, A. G., Czyz, E. K., & King, C. A. (2017). Psychopathology profiles of acutely suicidal adolescents: Associations with post-discharge suicide attempts and rehospitalization. Journal of Affective Disorders, 209, 97–104. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2016.10.036

Plummer, S.-B., Makris, S., & Brocksen, S. M. (Eds.). (2014a). Sessions: case histories. Baltimore, MD: Laureate International Universities Publishing. [Vital Source e-reader].