Depression & Suicide Prevention

This program comes to grips with depression through the experiences of five patients whose backgrounds span the socioeconomic spectrum. Three cases of chronic depression, one of which is complicated by borderline personality disorder and another by alcohol abuse, and two cases of bipolar disorder, one of which is extreme, are presented. The overarching message? Patients with depression can stabilize and lead fulfilling lives if they accept their condition and proactively address it. Antidepressants, psychiatric therapy, acupuncture, and other modalities are touched upon as components of a tailored treatment plan. (46 minutes)

Four to eight percent of American children experience bouts of major depression. Among teenage girls, that rate can be as high as sixteen percent. This program from The Doctor Is In emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis and treatment to avoid potential patterns of repeated depression later in life-and to prevent substance abuse and suicide. Children suffering from depression talk about how they cope with it, while child psychiatrist David G. Fassler, author of Help Me, I'm Sad, and Steven Atkins, a psychologist at Dartmouth Medical School, provide authoritative insights. A Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center Production. (29 minutes)

Depression affects over 17 million Americans each year, and it's been estimated that only one-third of this group gets any treatment, largely because of stigma and fear. The lack of treatment results in a high number of suicides, making this illness as fatal as any other illness and a public epidemic. This program from The Doctor Is In explains the disease through the experiences of several people, including 60 Minutes host Mike Wallace; Kay Redfield Jamison, psychiatrist and author of a book on her life with manic-depressive illness; artist Lama Dejani; and State Department official Robert Boorstin. The program also provides an overview of medications and therapy being used. A Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center Production. (28 minutes)

Approximately 19 million American adults are grappling with depression. In this ABC News program, Ted Koppel talks with guests who have experienced the disease as well as family members who have lived through their loved ones' agonies. The program also pays tribute to the late actor Spalding Gray, who had the courage to go public with his condition, and features clips from his performances in which depression was the focus. (23 minutes)

It makes no headlines. It does not suddenly break out in epidemics. Yet depression costs the U.S. economy $40 billion per year and is predicted to be the most pervasive disease of the 21st century. In this penetrating two-part series, noted scientist Lewis Wolpert, author of Malignant Sadness and a former patient himself, sympathetically investigates clinical depression. A BBC Production. 2-part series, 50 minutes each.

According to the World Health Organization, depression is the number one cause of disability in the U.S. today, with an economic cost exceeding $44 billion. What are the symptoms? How do biological, genetic, and psychosocial factors affect mood-regulating neurotransmitters? And are women at special risk? In this program, Martin Keller, of the Brown University School of Medicine, and other experts answer questions about the pathology of depressive disorders and current treatment options such as selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, psychotherapy, and electroconvulsive therapy. (23 minutes)

Though aging has its challenges, depression and its frequent companion, substance abuse, need not be among them. This program dispels the myth that there is something inherently depressing about aging. It explores the complex relationship between depression, alcohol, and substance abuse, showing how knowledge of symptoms, family support, and early treatment can restore the capacity for pleasure and contentment in most seniors' lives. Interviews with spouses, family members, social workers, and geriatric psychiatrists are combined with candid, firsthand accounts. (57 minutes)

In this program, Dr. Dennis Charney, of Yale University; Lydia Lewis, of the National Depressive and Manic Depressive Association; and other mental health professionals discuss the types, symptoms, and triggers of depression as they relate both to adolescents and to adults. Promising antidepressants such as selective norepinephrine re-uptake inhibitors, Substance P antagonists, and corticotropin-releasing factor receptor antagonists are considered, as are advances in brain scan technology. The value of psychiatric counseling and peer support groups is also stressed. (23 minutes)

Although the stigma of depression is fading, less than half of those who need help with depression will seek it out. Using several patient histories, this program addresses mild, moderate, and severe depression as well as the specialized cases of vascular depression, treatment-resistant depression, and the depressive aspect of bipolar disorder. Signs and symptoms of depression are spelled out, and multimodal treatment through psychotherapy, medication, support groups, and aerobic exercise is discussed. Commentary is provided by Thomas Insel, director of the National Institute of Mental Health; Susan Blumenthal, of the Georgetown University School of Medicine; and P. Murali Doraiswamy, of Duke University Medical Center. (28 minutes)

Clinical depression and ignorance are a dangerous combination. Myths surrounding the disease-for example, the notion that it affects only adults-often prevent depressed young people from seeking help. This video shatters common misconceptions about depression, helping young viewers recognize its outward and internal symptoms. The latest forms of treatment are also explored. Interviews with teens who are living successfully with the disease, and commentary by renowned adolescent psychologist Dr. Harold S. Koplewicz, are interwoven with eye-catching and informative graphics that reinforce essential points. A viewable/printable instructor's guide containing student activities, discussion questions, vocabulary terms, and other helpful features is available online. The result is an honest, youth-centered informational tool that encourages a proactive approach to depression. Correlates to National Health Education Standards. A Cambridge Educational Production. (25 minutes)

Grade Level: 5-8. One out of five teenagers becomes depressed as a result of serious school, family or social problems. In some cases these teens can become suicidal. For some youngsters, feeling they are a social outcast or an academic failure can precipitate depression.

As many as one in five older Americans have late-life depression, which can lead to suicide. In this program from The Doctor Is In, three senior citizens describe how they have coped with this life-threatening illness. Medical commentary is provided by Charles Reynolds III, director of the Late-Life Depression Evaluation and Treatment Center at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine; psychiatrist Thomas Oxman, of the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center; and Lucille Karatzas, director of Elder Services at Seacoast Mental Health Center. The central message? Late-life depression is a treatable disease, not an inevitable part of aging. A Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center Production. (28 minutes)

These programs examine research about the physiological, psychological, sociological, and cultural aspects of these disorders and their treatments. Each program highlights real people with these illnesses and their treatments and features leading experts in each field. The goal of these programs is to explain what we do and do not know about each of these conditions, as well as to destigmatize the disorders by presenting them in the context of the same research process that is applied to all medical disorders.3-part series, 21-24 minutes each.

This program will help teenagers recognize and deal with the black dog" by explaining the causes and symptoms of depression, telling how and where to find help, and providing information on forward-looking treatments tailored for teens. Australian rock musician Daniel Johns and young adults from both urban and rural areas in Australia discuss their experiences with depression. In addition, Jeff Kennett, director of beyondblue-Australia's national depression-awareness initiative-and other mental health professionals add informative and supportive commentary. Viewable/printable educational resources are available online. (29 minutes)"

At some point everyone goes through very stressful and anxious situations. Those experiences can be very hard to cope with and lead to feelings of extreme sadness, anger and depression. Sometimes teens may feel like their situations are hopeless and think that one way to get relief from the bad feelings is to escape through suicide. What are the warning signs of suicide? Is there anything we can do to help prevent it? This is what this program will discuss.