This digest discusses the most frequently diagnosed mood disorders in children and adolescents, including major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, and bipolar disorder. The symptoms of these disorders are described, along with family and genetic causal factors, biological causal factors, and cognitive causal factors. The digest then addresses the diagnosis and assessment of depressive illness in young people and treatment of depressive disorders. Educators are urged to provide a positive and supportive environment, components of which include satisfaction of basic needs, caring relationships with adults, and physical and psychological security. It stresses that any inclusion in a student's program that serves to enhance feelings of self-worth, self-control, and optimism has the potential for ameliorating feelings of depression. Educators are also urged to use instructional strategies that are both positive and effective, so that the student will achieve success and enjoy the learning process. Examples include direct instruction with positive reinforcement, thematic instructional units with varied levels of classroom assignments, learning strategies, and utilization of principles of universal design for learning that promote access to the general curriculum for students with learning problems. (Contains 17 references.) (CR)