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Help Me, I’m Sad: Recognizing, Treating, and Preventing Childhood and Adolescent Depression.
By David G. Fassler and Lynne S. Dumas. New York: Penguin Books, 1997, 210 pages, $12.95.
Clinical Depression is a disorder that affects not only adults, but also more increasingly within the past years, children and adolescents. This increase in diagnoses does not imply that children and adolescents are more depressed than previous generations, however, mental health professionals are more aware of recognizing the symptoms than before. A second reason is professionals are also more adept at ruling out other diagnoses, such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder that was often incorrectly given to depressed clients. Help Me, I’m Sad written by David G. Fassler and Lynne S. Dumas is a comprehensive book on clinical depression in children and adolescents that serves to inform readers on essentially every aspect of the disorder.
Primarily written for parents of depressed children and adolescents, this book addresses questions parents may have regarding their child’s emotional well being, while discrediting some “myths” of depression. The first myth refuted is that depressed individuals are always sad and although this may be the case for most adults, children and adolescents often exhibit depressive symptoms in vastly different ways. For example, young girls may have a tendency to show the more characteristic “sad” symptoms, while young boys will often act aggressively towards peers. Readers are made aware of depressive symptoms, while learning what distinguishes normal sadness from clinical depression. What Fassler and Dumas do well in this book is portray an overriding theme that parents are not solely to blame for their child’s depression, which serves to alleviate some of the blame or guilt they may feel. While it is true that the parental role or lack thereof has a major impact on a child, it is not the only factor in the emergence of depression.
This book proves useful in relating what it is like to live each day depressed, all through first-hand accounts from depressed children. Fassler and Dumas also include personal accounts from both parents and siblings of depressed children illustrating the effects on the family, particularly the guilt they may feel. Also integrated is the likelihood of a dual diagnosis, such as depression and a learning disability, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and an eating disorder. Once depressive symptoms are apparent, whether from parental observations or from school or pediatrician referrals, this book offers valuable information on treatment options, a therapist’s qualifications, and the theoretical perspectives that conceptualize depression.
Help Me, I’m Sad is best suited for parents who have a depressed child, serving as a great resource and educational tool. Given the potential audience, this book is not ideal for bibliotherapy as is it is geared towards parents rather than to the actual client. One aspect for clinicians to consider is to have parents read this book during the course of their child’s psychotherapy. Presented in this way, parents learn what to expect during the therapeutic process. For example, to not expect behavior changes to occur dramatically overnight, and often children may be more aggressive in the weeks following the onset of psychotherapy because they begin to feel better. By reading this book during the course of psychotherapy, parents are given the opportunity to discuss their questions and concerns freely with their child’s psychotherapist. Concerns and issues of importance can be integrated in each treatment session in conjunction with frequent family sessions with parents and their child.
Another key aspect of this book is that parents learn ways to respond to their child’s behavior at home. One chapter is dedicated to offering appropriate parenting skills in helping their child in every day-to-day life, as in keeping open communication lines showing a child that his or her parent cares. While these parenting skills may not completely “cure” depression, parents equipped with the appropriate skills can potentially lessen the intensity of their child’s future depressive episode. In addition, parents are made aware of the necessary actions they must take if their child is having suicidal ideations. Parents also learn the facts surrounding in-patient hospitalizations and residential treatment. An additional point in this book is that Fassler and Dumas provide great detail concerning medication. While providing information about the different types and effects of medication, parents learn cautiousness is key regarding a clinician who too readily prescribes or relies too heavily on medication. The authors reiterate that parents know best and if they are not comfortable with medication they should not be pressured to agree with the clinician.
This book has many strengths that serve to increase a reader’s, particularly a parent’s knowledge of depression. Yet, one weakness of the book is the focus on adolescent depression. Even though informative, the chapter on adolescent depression is very brief and lacks the detail given to childhood depression. What may prove more beneficial is to assign a different book that focuses entirely on adolescent depression if there is an interest.
This book serves as appropriate and knowledgeable reading material for a parent who has a depressed child or adolescent. This book is also ideal for young adults who are high school educated that have siblings diagnosed with depression. Also, any individual who is at least high school educated and is interested in learning more about childhood and adolescent depression is encouraged to read this book. This book is not ideal for middle school students or younger as even though the book is relatively easy to read, the material can become too complex to understand.
The overall assessment of Help Me, I’m Sad is that it is a valuable resource, due to the amount of information covered in this comprehensive book. This book is fairly easy to read and it is devoid of highly technical psychological jargon. The book proves favorable by essentially discussing topics ranging from the first depressive symptoms to the therapeutic expectations. Although this book is not of the greatest value for bibliotherapy, Help Me, I’m Sad is highly recommended as more of a resource and educational material for parents whose children are struggling with, and receiving treatment for, depression.