Susan couldn't understand why her son, David, was doing so poorly in high school. "Poor attention in class... Inability to concentrate... Incomplete homework assignments.. Brooding behavior." How was this possible when he had been an "A" student throughout middle school?

At a loss to figure out the next steps, Susan contacted Jewish Family Service of MetroWest (JFS) and met with a clinical social worker, who also met with David alone.

She found that David was very upset by the recent separation of his parents. He had lost ten pounds, was not eating well, and was consumed by thoughts of failure. A JFS psychiatrist confirmed that David was gripped by depression, as well as panic and anxiety about getting into college.

David was furious at his mother for initiating the separation and burdened by pressure to do well in school. His mother, an Ivy League graduate successful in the business world, wanted him to get into a good college. His father, a graphic artist, was more "laid back." The more David tried to focus on school, the more he failed.

To help David with his depression and anxiety, a JFS psychiatrist prescribed medication. Gradually, his appetite returned, as well as his ability to concentrate better in school. But it took individual and family counseling by a JFS therapist, to assist David with his angry feelings towards his mother. He came to realize that under-performing in school was a way of retaliating against Susan.

By the middle of the second semester, David was doing better in school. Counseling and medication evaluation at JFS helped David confront his depression, take greater control over his life, and begin to communicate with his parents about their separation and possible divorce.

JFS receives funding from the United Jewish Appeal of MetroWest NJ to support programs and services. To find out more about the services JFS offers, or to reach a JFS professional, visit their website at www.jfs-metronj.org.