Tool kit Table of Contents:

Lesson 1 – What is Depression?

1. Symptoms and Types of Depression
2. Prevalence, course of depression
3. Suicide and depression
4. Risk factors for depression
5. Social and economic costs of depression

Lesson 2 – The Science of Depression

1. Scientific study of Human Behavior & Mental Illness
2. Scientific models of causes of mental illness
3. Biology and Environment
4. Integrative Models
5. Mental Health and Immunity
6. Limits of Science

Lesson 3 – The Causes of Depression

1. Genetic and Biological Factors
2. Neurotransmitter malfunction evidence
3. Brain Structures Associated with Depression
4. Depression and Stress
5. Depression and Brain Changes
6. Psychological, Environmental and Cultural factors

Lesson 4 – Brain Anatomy & Function

1. Brain Development
2. Brain and nervous system structures associated with depression
3. Use it or lose it
4. Teen Brains

Lesson 5 – Neurons and Neurotransmitters

1. Communication in the Brain: Neurons and Neurotransmitters
2. Neurotransmission process and depression
3. The "Chemical Imbalance" model of depression: evidence and limitations
4. Behavior and Neurotransmission
5. Understanding Emotions

Lesson 6 – Depression and Stress

1. Stress and the Fight-Flight Response
2. Neurobiology of Stress
3. Stress and Illness, Immunity
4. Stress, depression, and the HPA axis connection
5. Stress Management

Lesson 7 – Prevention and Treatment of Depression

1. Psychotherapies and Medications for treating depression
2. Experimental or other treatments:  Herbal Treatments, Electroconvulsive Therapy, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, Exercise
3. Learned Optimism
4. How family, friends and others can help a depressed person
5. Suicide Prevention

Lesson 8 – Reducing Stigma

1. Historical Roots of Stigma
2. Effects of Stigma
3. Erasing Stigma
4. Stereotypes in Media
5. Violence and Mental Illness
6. Myths about Mental Illness

Other features of the depression teaching toolkit:

• Resources, readings, and cool websites on topics covered in each lesson
• Interesting scientists working in the field and their stories
• Topics of interest in current research
• Classroom activities
• Colorful student handouts designed to appeal to teens
• interviews with teens on lesson topics