4/09/2016

Interviewee/ Family Member: Alexandria Scott

Interviewer: Sidney Covington
Introduction
Alexandria is a 67 year old female that has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder (also
known as manic depression) since the age of 37. She believes that a lot of her childhood trauma
is the cause of her diagnoses. She never sought treatment for the abuse, trauma, maltreatment or
neglect she experienced as a child until she was in her thirties. She feels that she was genetically
exposed to depression because both her mother and sister committed suicide. She grew-up on the
south side of Chicago and spent a portion of her adolescent years in and out of family homes and
foster homes. She had a baby at the age of 17 years old and the baby died when she was only 2
months old because of a skin disease that was not treatable at the time. Inevitably, she attracted
man that either physical abused her or mentally abused her. She final found a way out of her
abusive past that was effecting her present and left her last abusive relationship and sought
treatment.
Analyze
Alexandrias interview exposed the harsh realities for mental health disorders. They
typically stem from childhood maltreatment and left untreated can become problematic during
adulthood. Her story showed the genetic possibility of depression running in families with her
mother and sister committing suicide. Alexandria suffers from a serve type of depression that
impedes on her quality of life because of the delayed intervention to discuss the trauma she

experienced during her childhood. The trauma she had endured could have affected her brains
development increasing her risk for depression.
Other useful information
One thing that is important to recognize with this population is that some individuals
have depression related to maltreatment or trauma that they have experienced as a child. A
portion of this population are born vulnerable to having depression regardless of the quality of
life one grew up. It is important as social workers to ensure that we do not belittle or undermine
someones level of depression because of their lack of trauma or maltreatment. Understanding
the importance of brain development can eliminate negative stigmas for clients.
Personal impact
Half of my childhood, I grew up with a mother that suffered from bipolar and severe
anxiety attacks. I had general knowledge on the topic because I better wanted to understand what
my mother was going through. I also wanted to know the chance I would be effected by the same
mental disorder.
Future Social Work
One thing that future social works can do is work on prevention programs that educates
children on depression and its impact on individuals, families, and communities. Similar to the
FRIENDS for life prevention intervention that will be discussed later in this project. Some cause
of depression could be prevented if intervention to handle childhood traumas were accessed
shortly after the trauma.
Conclusion

Depression is a very real mental health disease that is also a public health concern that
needs to be addressed. Through prevention and early interventions, social workers can decrease
the severity of depression in some populations. Depression does not discriminate and effects all
people equally.