Mood Disorder Resource Guide

Academy Elementary School Mood
Disorder Resource Guide
2020

Chelsea Spinn
AES Counselor
254-982-4261
[email protected]

"The list contained in this document is of known providers of a particular 
service. The providers on the list are from a variety of sources. This list is 

being provided as a courtesy, for information only, and the user should 
understand that no assurances or guarantees regarding the providers on the 
list are being made by providing this list. Academy ISD neither endorses, 

approves, nor recommends any specific provider listed. This list is not 
inclusive of all community agencies, services or organizations that provide 
the particular service, and the omission of an agency, service, or organization 
from this list does not imply disapproval. It is the responsibility of the user 
of this list to determine whether any of the content is of value to them and 

whether or not the agency, service, or organization meets their specific 
needs." 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Bipolar Disorder 

Definition  Signs/Symptoms 

A chronic condition where a  ● Irritability 
person experiences extreme  ● Unpredictability 
manic highs accompanied by  ● Hyperactivity 
the lows of depression  ● Attention problems 
(Psychology Today).  ● Conduct problems 
● Childhood depression 
  ● Developing an eating 

disorder 
● Self mutilation 
● Suicidal ideation 
● Changes in sleep 

patterns 
● Rapid 

cycling-transitioning 

between manic highs 

and depression 
● Mixed state-agitation, 

high energy, 

restlessness, feelings 

of worthlessness 
● Aggressiveness 

(Bardick & Bernes, 2005) 

Depression 

Definition  Signs/Symptoms 

Also known as major  ● Extended periods of 
depression disorder, 
depression can be caused by  irritable mood 
biological, psychological,  ● Lack of interest in 
social, and environmental 
factors (Oyama &  activities that one 
Piotrowski, 2020). 
Depression can also be  previously enjoyed 
defined as a significant  ● Significant 
change in mood or an intense 
feeling of sadness.  unintentional weight 

  gain/loss 
● insomnia/ 

hypersomnia 
● Physical agitation 
● Fatigue 
● Feelings of 

worthlessness 
● Excessive guilt 
● Indecisiveness 
● Lack of ability to 

concentrate 
● Frequent thoughts of 

death 

(Oyama & Piotrowski, 2020) 

 

Schizophrenia 

Definition  Signs/Symptoms 

A chronic mental illness that  ● Hallucinations 
enables a person to think or  ● Disorganized thinking 
behave rationally and can  ● Delusions 
eventually lead to psychosis.  ● Paranoia 
● Being fearful 
● Seeming withdrawn 
● Difficult to interact with 
● Unable to find pleasure in 

daily life 
● Trouble communicating 
● Poor ability to make 

decisions 
● Difficulty focusing 
● Slow processing speed 

(Psychology Today, n.d.) 

 

 

 

Community Resources 

Starry  2027 S. 61s​ t​ St #100B

Temple, TX 76504

254-773-5802

Services: Free counseling for children up to
age 17 and their family

 

Intervention Services 401 W. 6th Street

Georgetown, TX 78626

512-713-9886

Services: Intervention services specializes in
treating children, adolescents, and adults in

individual counseling for various mental
illnesses

Cedar Crest 3500 I-35 Frontage Rd
  Belton, TX 76513
855-419-5242
University of Mary
Hardin-Baylor Services: short term residential treatment
center for children and adolescents

 

710 N. Pearl St
Belton, TX 76513

Community Life (254) 295- 5531
Counseling Center
Counseling services provided by master’s
(CLC) level graduate students

   

Grace Alliance Mentalhealthgracealliance.org
 
254-235-0616

Services: offers preventative and recovery
mental health support for those dealing with

 depression, anxiety, mood instability, racing

thoughts and any mental illness diagnosis

Georgetown Georgetownbehavioral.com
Behavioral Health 3101 S. Austin Ave

  Georgetown, TX 78626
877-500-9151

 Services: mental health and psychiatric care

National Alliance on Namitexas.org
Mental Illness (NAMI)
Austin State Hospital Campus Building 781
Room 428

Austin, Tx 78703

512-693-2000

Services: educate and support individuals and
families affected by mental illness

Depression and dbsalliance.org/
Bipolar Support
55 E Jackson Blvd, Suite 490 
Alliance (DBSA)
Chicago, IL 60604 

800-826-3632 

Services: DBSA is a national organization 
that focuses on various mood disorders 
including bipolar and depression. DBSA 
offers online resources, support groups, 

audio/video casts, and printed materials upon 
request. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Referral Process and Confidentiality 
 

In House Services  After the initial referral to the school 
Outside Agencies  counselor, the school counselor will 
meet with the student. If the school 
counselor feels that other services 
are needed for the student, she will 
call the parents and discuss the need 
to refer to Intervention Services. 
When the parents provide consent, a 
counselor from Intervention Services 
will come and perform an intake on 
the student to determine if services 
are needed. Intervention Services 
comes to the school once per week 
to meet with students who do not 
have insurance or lack the funds or 
transportation to seek private 
counseling. 

After an initial referral to the school 
counselor, the school counselor will 
meet with the student to determine if 
additional assistance is needed. If it 
is determined that a student needs to 
be referred, a meeting will be set up 
with the parents to discuss the needs 
of the student. If the student has 
insurance and transportation, a list of 

Confidentiality  trusted outside agencies will be 
provided to the parents.  
 
  Confidentiality is very important 
when dealing with a student’s 
behavioral needs. In order to 
maintain confidentiality, details 
about a student and the referral 
process will be limited to only those 
directly involved in the process: the 
teacher making the initial referral to 
the counselor, the school counselor, 
the principal, possibly the school 
nurse if needed, the parent/guardian, 
and either a representative from 
Intervention Services or an outside 
agency.  

 

 

 

IDEA 

The Individuals with Disabilities Act  IDEA ensures that all students 

(IDEA) is a law that states that  diagnosed with any type of mood 

children with disabilities should be  disorder will be given an appropriate 

given a free and appropriate public  individualized education plan (IEP) 

education and that those children  in order to be socially, emotionally, 

should also receive the services  and academically successful while 

needed in order to be successful.   they are in the public school system.  

(United States Department of Education) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Section 504 

Section 504 is a law that ensures  Section 504 ensures that students 

schools provide appropriate services  with mental disabilities are provided 

and meet the needs of students with  with the appropriate 

disabilities in the same way that they  accommodations in order to be 

meet the needs of those students  successful socially, emotionally, and 

without disabilities.   academically. These services can 

take place in a regular education 

classroom, educational classroom 

with supplementary services, or 

provided with special education and 

related services.   

(United States Department of Education) 

 

 

 

 

 

References 

Bardick, A. D., & Bernes, K. B. (2005). A Closer Examination of Bipolar Disorder in 
School-Age Children. P​ rofessional School Counseling,​ ​9(​ 1), 72–77. 
https://doi.org/10.5330/prsc.9.1.k2153125rh611517 

Oyama, O., PhD, & Piotrowski, N. A., PhD. (2020). Depression. ​Magill’s Medical Guide 
(Online Edition)​.  

Psychology Today. (n.d.). Schizophrenia. Retrieved from: 
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/conditions/schizophrenia 

United States Department of Education. (n.d.). About IDEA. Retrieved from: 
https://sites.ed.gov/idea/about-idea/ 

United States Department of Education. (n.d.). Protecting Students with Disabilities. Retrieved 
from: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/504faq.html