My friend has been really really down recently and her moods have been changing big time.
Hi, my friend has been really really down recently and her moods have been changing big time. She doesn't have the easiest of lives at home and school. She also self harms pretty bad but she doesn't talk to me much.
She's seeing CAMHS and things like that, but i'm wondering is she depressed and how will my school know? Because she can't concentrate and her grades slipped these past few years. So i'm just wondering how my school would know.
Hi. It sounds like you are really worried about your friend. It can be hard to see a friend feeling down and hurting themselves and when they don't talk much it is difficult to know what is happening. A big thing that friends can do is to be around, offer support and be patient.
Depression has a few symptoms and is diagnosed by a professional like a doctor or mental health worker. Not being able to concentrate can be a symptom of depression. CAMHS is the most appropriate service for your friend and I am sure she is getting the help she needs. Part of CAMHS's role can be to talk with the young person's school so strategies are put in place to best help them. I wonder if her parents may have spoken to the school. Also, teachers are pretty good at knowing when a young person is not going okay so she may have talked with a teacher.
As a supportive friend it is also important for you to have support of a trusted adult so you can talk to them about your worries too. If your school has a counsellor you could talk with them about your concerns, especially your worries that your friend is self harming.
Take care.
