Teaching and Understanding Gifted Students Suffering from Depression

A Summary and Exposition of an Article Found in the "English Journal"

Summary of an Article from the English Journal

The Unrecognized Exceptionality: Teaching Gifted Students with Depression
by Susan Gardener

Many times teachers makes exceptions in our lesson plans, style of teaching, discipline strategies etc. for the usual reasons, a learning or behavioral disorder, mental disability, dyslexia, physical handicaps and so on. Teachers are encouraged, required, and rewarded for attending continuing education seminars on Scotopic syndrome, ADD, ADHD, as well as other disorders and/or diseases that can hamper even the most well planned lessons. However, a common exception is often made when teachers over look depression, for this disease is frequently under diagnosed, misdiagnosed and the worst case scenario is undiagnosed, and that reality is simply intolerable. Not only is depression a serious mental disease, but its most damaging effect, in extreme cases, includes death by suicide; this tragedy especially affects gifted children. Often times, because educators misunderstand the symptoms and are not familiar with strategies for handling a gifted student with depression, most fall through the cracks as unrecognized victims, and matriculate through school as emotional ticking time-bombs.