[quote]Loss of appetite or weight loss
Waking early
Excessive boredom
Poor concentration[/quote]
I score 3/4, and 2/4 of those describe almost everyone that goes to public school that I've met. Hell, I've got a 2 minute long animated/voiced/musiced video project for Mythology due in 8 hours and 45 minutes, and I've yet to put what I have together to see how long it would be. Poor concentration could be a valid point, but when students simply don't care about the course/work, it loses all credibility. So, please tell me that they have more "Warning Signs" than these.
There are poorly handled mental health programs everywhere, but it seems to me like they're over-selling it.
It's the severity and frequency that makes them serious rather than just a bit of boredom.
One of the worst bits about depression is the unending gray bland boredom. You feel dull and dead inside no matter what you are doing, if you were bored in a lesson - everyone is. If you were bored at home... hmm... if you were bored and disinterested in everything you previously enjoyed and nothing seems to interest you for a long time? That's a good pointer for depression.
Weight change is a trickier one, it shouldn't be the sole factor for things unless it's something like Anorexia or Bulimia. It is difficult to make a general set of symptoms and the criteria is quite wide because it's hard to say 'All depressed people are bored and lose weight'.
This isn't the solution by any means but it might help matters a little.