Documentary:
“Depression and Suicide” written by Marcus Gunn and directed by Banning Lary.
Produced by: American Multimedia
Release date: 2002
Length: 20 minutes
Rating: it doesn’t have a rating, but I would say it is appropriate for middle school students to watch. It is geared towards teaching middle school aged students more about suicide and possible signs of suicide.
Follow the link to see the documentary
Description and Review:
This documentary is focused on sharing the common signs of depression in adolescents and the possible warning signs of suicide. It’s very informative, but in a way that young students can understand. It begins with a monologue from a 16-year old girl who is depressed, and she shares how she feels. She shares things like how she doesn’t feel like she is a good enough daughter to her parents, how she doesn’t want to talk to her friends about how she feels because she doesn’t want to burden them, and how she feels the most happiness when she is talking to people online because they don’t know her and she can sign off whenever she wants to. I think this monologue is easy for young students to relate to since it is coming from someone who is around their age. It also features a few other clips throughout the documentary that features teenagers sharing how they are feeling or reasons they are feeling sad. This documentary goes over the science of depression, like what’s happening in the brain that can cause depression. I think that it covers the emotions that one can feel when they are struggling with depression really well and it is important for students to be aware of those emotions so that if they feel that way they can seek help or if their friend is feeling that way they can get help for them. It also explains ways to seek help and the common ways depression in adolescents is treated. I like this documentary because it is short, it is really informative, and easily relatable since it is geared towards middle school and high school students.
National Health Standards:
HBO 6. Get help for troublesome thoughts, feelings, or actions for oneself or others
MEH 7.8.1 Explain the importance of being responsible for personal mental and emotional health behaviors
MEH1.8.13 Explain the causes, symptoms, and effects of depression
Popular film:
“Degrassi” (season 12, episode 31)
Produced by: TeenNick
Release date: July 16, 2012 – June 21, 2013
Length: 30 minute episodes
Rating: TV-PG
Here is the link to the clip. Stop at 13:01.
Description and Review:
The clip I chose from this episode of Degrassi shows one of the main characters, Cam, saying some really troubling things to one of his friends. Cam just got into an argument with one of his good friends and also found out some troubling news about his girlfriend that makes him really upset. He has also been experiencing difficult things at home and with his academics. When he enters the room and sees his friend Alli he says things like “I wish I could go to sleep and never wake up” and “my days are always bad”. Alli tries to calm him down, but brushes off those alarming words. This clip shows a teenager who is crying out for help to a person that doesn’t have the right resources or knowledge to catch the signs of suicide. In the next episode Cam does commit suicide and Alli feels guilty for not realizing he needed help. I like this clip because it portrays a character who on the surface seems like he is just going through normal “high school drama”, but is saying very alarming things that show how deeply he is hurting on the inside. I think it is important for students to realize what kind of language is cause for seeking help from an adult and to know that even if they aren’t sure if it’s something serious they should still seek help. I think this clip is relatable for seventh graders because it is close to their age and also he is going through similar things that they will probably experience sometime throughout middle or high school. If they are able to learn what these strong feelings look like through words or actions they will be better informed on when to seek help and where to find help.
National Health Standards:
MEH1.8.5 Explain appropriate ways to express needs, wants, emotions, and feelings
MEH 5.8.6 Predict the potential outcomes of healthy and unhealthy alternatives of a mental and emotional health-related decision
HBO 6. Get help for troublesome thoughts, feelings, or actions for oneself or others
Core Integration:
My core integration subject is language arts, specifically focusing on the standards for speaking and listening grade 7.
Language Arts Standards:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.7.1
Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 7 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.
Activity:
I would first show my class the documentary, “Suicide and Depression” and have them fill out guided notes throughout to help them follow along and pick up key points. Then I would show them the clip from “Degrassi”. I would give them a little bit of background on Cam, that he just got suspended from school and that he got in a fight with his girlfriend and friend. After viewing the clip I would have the students get into groups of 3-4 and discuss what they saw in the clip and what they would do if a friend acted that way in front of them. My hope is that they would take the information they had learned from the documentary and realize that Cam’s behavior showed signs of depression and possible suicide. During their discussion I would ask them to come up with an action plan that they think Alli should take to help Cam. Their action plan would include possible resources that are accessible at school. I think this activity would help the students use the new knowledge from the documentary and also allow them to collaborate with their peers over a topic that is very serious.