**Pamphlet: Hay Fever by Breathe California

 No pamphlet on hay fever would be complete without giving you a couple ideas of how to prevent it.  This pamphlet suggests: wear glasses and mask when working outdoors, garden in the evening or on cloudy days, don't dry clothes outdoor when pollen counts are high, wash pets frequently, avoid touching hands and eyes when working outdoors, rinse you nose with salt water, shower, wash hair freqently and wash clothes frequently.  However for me, I think the biggest preventer of hay fever is to keep my CPAP machine clean.

**Pamphlet Summary: Older Adults and Depression

Older Adults and Depression is a pamphlet produced by the National Institute for Mental Health.

This pamphlet discusses depression and older adults.  It says depression is not a normal part of again.  Symptoms which may indicate one is depressed include: feeling sad or empty; feeling hopeless, irritable, anxious or guilty; loss of interest in favorite activities; feeling very tired; not being able to concentrate or remember details; not being able to sleep, or sleeping too much, aches or pains, headaches, cramps, digestive problems, overeating or not wanting to eat. 
Depression can be caused by several factors including genes, brain chemistry and stress. 
In terms of treatment for depression, the first step is to talk to your doctor.  it is important to remember you can just “snap out of it.”  Treatment choices include medications or psychotherapy.  One should remember medications can take some time to work, and they may also have side effects which should be discussed with your doctor.  ECT is sometimes used for severe depression which is difficult to treat with conventional methods. 
If you have a loved one who is experiencing depression offer support and understanding, talk the the person, DO not ignore talk of suicide.  You can invite the person for a walk or other activity.  Assure them that with time, treat can help to lift depression. 
If you are depressed, some things to remember include: break up large tasks into smaller; spend time with people, friends and loved ones; stick to your treatment plan; do not make important life choices until you feel better.
National Suicide Prevention hotline is 1-800-273-8255.  Santa Clara County Suicide and Crisis line is 1-855-278-4204.

The National hotline is now 988 for suicide prevention.  This supercedes any local number.

Depression and High School Students

NIMH Pamphlet Depression and High School Students

Depression can occur during adolescence, a time of personal change.  Depression is a common mental illness typically marked by sad or anxious feelings.  It is common to feel sad sometimes for a day or two, but this usually passes quickly.  Depression lasts for a long time, and interferes with day-to-day activities.

Depression symptoms include feeling: Sad, Anxious, Empty, Hopeless, Guilty, Worthless, Helpless, Irritable or Restless.  In addition there may be these symptoms: Loss of interest in activities you enjoy, Lack of energy, Problems concentrating or remembering things, Problems falling asleep or staying asleep or sleeping too much, Loss of appetite or eating too much, Thoughts of suicide or suicide attempts and Aches, pains, headaches, cramps or digestive problems that do not go away.  One thing to note about adolescent depression (not mentioned in the flier) is that irritability is more common in teens than adults.  Adults more likely have depressed mood. 

If you suspect you might have depression it would be good to talk to your doctor or your parent could talk to a mental health professional.  Depression can respond to medications, psychotherapy or both.  Things you can do on your own to fight depression are: Give treatment a fair chance, attend appointments and give medications time to help, Engage in mild exercise, Participate in activities you enjoy, Break up large projects into smaller tasks, Spend time with friends and family, Expect your mood to improve gradually, Positive thinking will replace negative thoughts as depression improves.

If there is a crisis (you are are thinking or suicide, or someone you know is talking of suicide) you may call 911 for help or go to the nearest emergency room, or talk advantage of 24-hour crisis hot lines: 988 is the number nationwide.