Depression or Feeling "Blue"

As a teenager, there are so many changes taking place in your body and with your emotions that it can be very overwhelming. You might feel like you are in a great mood one minute and a bad one the next. This roller coaster of emotions is normal. It's OK to have the blues sometimes and there are things you can do to feel better. Try these tips to improve your mood:

• Know that what you are going through is very common.
• Find a way to relax, such as sitting down and taking a deep breath or taking a shower.
• Talk to your friends, parents/guardians, teachers, counselors or doctors about what you are feeling. They can help you sort through your emotions.
• Get some exercise. When you exercise, your body make more special chemicals called endorphines. Endorphines can help improve your mood.
• Make sure that you get enough rest. Being tired can make you feel more stressed.

There is a big difference between having the blues and having depression. Depression is a serious illness that affects many young people. The good news is that depression can be treated. Make sure to talk to your doctor or school counselor about any worries you have about depression.

How will I know if I have depression?

While some signs of depression can seem a lot like just having the blues, there is a way to know if you need to talk to your doctor about depression. See your doctor about depression if:
you have five or more of the symptoms listed below for at least two weeks, or
any one of these symptoms gets in the way of school or family life.
Symptoms of depression:

1. sadness or crying that you can’t explain
2. major changes in the way you eat such as not eating or over-eating
3. being crabby, angry, worried or nervous
4. feeling negative or not caring about anything
5. feeling guilty or worthless
6. thinking about death or committing suicide
7. sleep changes, such as sleeping more or having trouble sleeping
8. not being able to focus or make a decision
9. not being able to enjoy the things you usually enjoy
10. not wanting to spend time with your friends
11. feeling restless or tired most of the time

If your doctor decides that you do have depression, there are many ways it can be treated. The important thing is to get help. For more helpful information, check out: Let's Talk about Depression (PDF - 45KB) from the National Institute of Mental Health.

How can I help a friend who is depressed?
With all the changes taking place and new demands on your time, it is normal for you and your friends to feel down sometimes. If you have a friend who has been down for weeks, she or he may be dealing with depression. There are ways you can help. To learn how, check out What to do when a friend is depressed (PDF - 78KB) from the National Institute of Mental Health.

May is Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month

New Mexico is joining the national activities for
TEEN PREGNANCY PREVENTION MONTH

The biggest event is an interactive online “quiz” for teens. It will be unveiled on Wednesday, May 6, 2009 and runs through the month. Last year almost 300,000 teens around the country took this quiz.

You can help insure that New Mexico tens get involved in this important opportunity. The quiz includes real-life scenarios and storylines that will prompt teens to carefully consider how they would react in risky sexual situations. Many teens still think, “It can’t happen to me.” This activity will help break through that denial and understand that it can happen to them.

The message is simple. Teens must think about the importance of postponing pregnancy and parenthood until they are adults and take action now to protect their futures.

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED – SEX HAS CONSEQUENCES!

This event has been launched by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy in partnership with over 150 prominent national organizations.

For more information or access the quiz, log on to www.teenpregnancy.org

For more information on New Mexico activities, visit the New Mexico Teen Pregnancy Coalition at www.nmtpc.org

You Can Help!
· Spread the word to educators, medical and social service providers, the faith community and local community organizations. Ask them to promote the event.

· Get the word out to teens about the quiz. Help them find internet access for the quiz.

· Encourage your schools and libraries to provide internet access for the quiz.

· Help your local schools develop creative activities for the month of May.

· Publicize May events in your local newspapers and radio.

· Use the month of May to increase awareness about teen pregnancy in your community.

Did you know? New Mexico has the 2nd highest teen birth rate in the US

For more information, contact:
New Mexico Teen Pregnancy Coalition
PO Box 35997, Albuquerque, NM 87176
Phone: (505) 254-8737 s Fax: (505) 254-8741
email: nmtpc@nmtpc.org s www.nmtpc.org