Worried about theme of depressed DD GCSE English coursework

[worriedmum123]

My 15 year old DD was diagnosed with depression earlier this year and more recently with anxiety. It appears to be linked to a dislike of school but she attends school regularly and there is no apparent reason. She has friends and copes academically. She is having regular therapy through CAHMS, sees a counsellor weekly at school and is on medication.

Yesterday I found a copy of her GCSE English coursework in the printer. She had written about a girl suffering from depression, who at the end takes an overdose and dies. Whilst it was beautifully written and very moving I obviously found it very upsetting. It was unclear how much of it is fictional and how much she had based on her own feelings and thoughts. In the story the mother of the girl was an alcoholic (not factual) and the father was often absent (not factual).

When she realised I had read it she was cross with me. She later apologised but she is very uncommunicative and it is difficult to talk to her about how she is feeling. I find it very difficult to understand her depression as I have no experience myself, neither does my DH. I plan to phone her therapist to discuss it with her as I am worried that it reflects the way she is feeling at the moment. I am also worried about what the teacher will think when she reads it. Whilst the school know about her depression I am sure the teacher will find it disturbing.

[Pangaea]

Its probably some very good catharsis for her.

As long as you are dealing with the depression itself, I don't find it too troubling. It might be helpful for her to get her feelings down on paper in this way.

[Spottybra]

It's hard because you know she's depressed but she's probably exploring her world and using a bit of imagination. I wrote about a fifteen year old orphan whose parents had been killed by the IRA for my English Creative writing GCSE. In a drama assessment we were given the word 'dilemma' and I built up a whole drama around being bullied and whether suicide was a way out when I had experience of neither. I got 'a's in both pieces. Perhaps just focus on telling her how good you thought it was?

[worriedmum123]

Thanks, yes I'm sure you are right. Once her counsellor found out she enjoyed writing she encouraged her to put her thoughts down on paper. I see her writing in a notebook from time to time but don't think it is my place to read what she has written in there. Should I be worried abouty the teacher's reaction? Or do you think they will see it as a piece of creative writing.

[HSMMaCM]

DD has a notebook where she writes down her thoughts. She often leaves it poking out of the top of her bag, which I take as a sign that she actually wants me to see it. It's depressing reading. A teacher did once comment on her disturbing poetry, but didn't read any more into it than that.

[Agggghast]

If I took seriously all the controlled assessments I marked I would be in a complete panic. I am afraid it is an age when they love wallowing in misery. However a pupil once gave me a homework that revealed the horrific way her sister was being abused but what alerted me to the truth of it was her behaviour( gave it in P1 and came to ask me at Break if I had read it). That alerted me and the situation was dealt with. As a teacher you tend to be able to see what is a cry for help.