Depression in the Young: What We Can Do to Help Them [Paperback]

Trudy Carlson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1998

Based on the wrenching and unexpected suicide death of her son Ben at age fourteen, Minnesota author and lecturer Trudy Carlson discusses depressive illness in young people and explains aspects of available treatments for each. Well organized, thoroughly researched, and conversational written, Carlson's frank, explicate guide through illness, treatment, medication, and psychotherapies is designed with the layman in mind. Based on personal experience chronicled in the second half of her earlier work, THE SUICIDE OF MY SON, Carlson's latest book contains detailed chapters dedicated to the recognition and treatment of depressive illness in the young, as well as their affects on the family, friends, classmates, and physicians involved with the sufferer. Direct and personal, written from the heart of someone who's been there, Carlson's forthright book is recommended reading as a helpful, hopeful guide through the traumatic maze of childhood depression and treatment.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book is important for every parent and teacher to read." -- Barry D. Garfinkel, M.D., F.R.C.P. (C) Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical School, University of Minnesota

"This is the first book I could truly identify with, as a mother and an educator. Your personal account puts the complexities of brain diseases into an easy to understand format; written from the heart and the mind." -- Vicki M. Bresson, SA\VE Board Member

"Trudy writes with precision and clarity. Her willingness to dig deep into her soul will help others who are looking for guidance." -- Robin Blatnik, M.A.E.S., English Instructor

"We are in desperate need of information on childhood depression. This book truly fills the gap; a gift to all families." -- Marilyn Koenig, Friends for Survival

"Your book serves as a guide for the signs of the neurobiological condition that causes many cases of childhood depression." -- Tracy Pierson, young woman whose brother suffered from depression

HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS: "As more people become familiar with treating young bipolar patients with small amounts of lithium, the death rate will be reduced enormously." -- Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, M.D.

PARENTS "Your books should be required reading for every high school and college student and teacher. Thank you for explaining these conditions so clearly!" -- Mary Kluesner, Chairperson, SA\VE

From the Back Cover

This is the book for everyone who asks, "What causes a young person to become depressed?"

A must read for anyone interested effective treatment for the emotional problems plaguing today's youth.

Parents are appalled at the rise of depression in young people aged 15 to 24 over the past 20 years. The possibility of one of their children having it so horrifies most parents that they don't even want to think about it. But when it occurs in a family of someone they know, they ask themselves, "Could it happen to us?"

Teachers know that 39% of today's students experience a mild to severe case of depression. This book describes effective methods of helping kids cope.

Medical personnel need to identfy the difference between adolescent turbulence and true depression . This book serves as a guide to the differences between adult and juvenile depression.

You want to know how it is possible to prevent the life-long suffering that results when depression goes untreated. This book describes effective treatments.

Carlson's description of her personal experience with tragedy and suffering, gives a unique opportunity for parents and professionals of various fields to further their understanding of depression. My hearty endorsement and gratitude for this book. Jerome Kwako M.D., Fellow American Academy of pediatrics; Director, ADHD Clinic, Miller Dwan Hospital; Director, Comprehensive Clinic for Children with Handicaps

Well written and thoughtful. An interesting personal account of the symptoms of depression and anxiety. Carlson has done a very nice job of covering a difficult subject. Dr. Carrie Borchardt, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Minnesota

I sincerely hope that many will read and profit from your books. Dr. Mogens Schou, Riskov, Denmark, pioneer in the use of lithium therapy for manic-depressive illness

Trudy Carlson, M.S. operates small health care facilities. She taught university classes in child, adolescent and developmental psychology; the psychology of the exceptional child; and personality and mental hygiene.

From: the author of The Suicide of My Son For: The reader who wants a smaller, easy to pick up form of the second half of that book . It focues on the symptoms and effective treatment of depression and anxiety.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Benline Pr; 1st edition (January 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0964244357
• ISBN-13: 978-0964244351
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,862,652 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #44 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Health, Mind & Body > Death & Grief > Suicide
  • #48 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Health, Mind & Body > Psychology & Counseling > Child Psychology > Psychology
  • #54 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Health, Mind & Body > Psychology & Counseling > Adolescent Psychology

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Dangerous if untreated . . ., March 19, 2000

By 

PJ in Minnesota - See all my reviews

This review is from: Depression in the Young: What We Can Do to Help Them (Paperback)

Depression is often misunderstood and misdiagnosed in young people; the popular thinking probably being "what have they got to be depressed about?" Yet you have only to pick up a newspaper to see the devastating effects of undiagnosed and untreated depression on young persons today. This is a good, helpful book!

Compact in size and plainly written (I get bogged down in most medically written books) by a parent and former educator, this guide shows teachers and parents how to recognize even mild cases of depression; shows how to get treatment, and explains methods of coping and caring.

There's an old saying that parenthood should come with an instruction manual. Maybe it should come with this book, too.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Depressing take on situation, July 4, 2005

By 

Mary Ellen "Mary Ellen" (Delaware Co., Pa.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Depression in the Young: What We Can Do to Help Them (Paperback)

First, let me offer my sincere condolences to the author, Trudy Carlson and her family with the loss of her son. How truly tragic. I am also a survivor, but of parental suicide and understand the devastation suicide brings to a family.
Second, I found the book informative with regard to depression with the young. However, the author's take on her world view is a very depressing one. Her book offers facts,but no hope and I do think it paints too bleek a picture for children who suffer from depression and other types of mental illness.