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How does depression effect teens
Depression as problem in teenagers and solutions pdf
Depression and its effect on teens
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“According to Mental Health America, one in every five teens has clinical depression” (“Safe Teens”). Do you know someone who suffers from teenage depression, or maybe a friend or family member? Or maybe you, yourself, may suffer from teenage depression. Well you are not alone. Many teens in America, as well as the rest of the world, are affected by teenage depression. Depression is an effect for many teens, with many causes. As a result, there are three major causes for teenage depression such as: Genetics, Environment, and Unhealthy Habits. In this essay, I will go in depth the many causes for teen depression.
The first of the three major causes for teen depression is Genetics. Genetics play a vital role in whether or not a teenager develops depression. The first cause from genetics is inherited traits. Teen depression can be inherited from parents who have depression themselves. “To prove that children inherit these traits from their parent, Kagan studied their family histories. He found that an unusual number of the parents had mood disorders and that a large percentage of the mildly depressed parent had also been shy as children” (Wolff). As a result many parents who have depression could have developed as a result of their youth. “Depression runs in families. Children and teens that have a parent with depression are more likely to develop depression than children with parents who are not depressed. Experts believe that both inherited traits (genetics) as well as living with a parent who is depressed can cause depression” (“Depression in Children”). In addition, teens may not only get depression genetically but they could also develop the mental illness by simply living with their depressed parent or parents. This is how in...
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... if you or someone you know suffers from adolescent depression you are not alone.
Work Cited
• Bower, Bruce. "Teenage Depression shows Family Ties." Science News Feb 03 2001: 72. ProQuest. Web. 12 Dec. 2013.
• "Depression in Children and Teens." Www.cigna.com. N.P., 3 May 2013. Web. 13 Dec. 2013.
• “For Teens: Let’s Talk About Depression.” Healthyplace.com. Healthyplace.com Inc., 01 Jan. 2009. Web. 21 Nov. 2013
• "SafeTeens.org." Safe Teens. Maternal and Family Health Services, Inc., 2013. Web. 13 Dec. 2013.
• “Teen Depression.” www.mayoclinic.com. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 7 Nov. 2012. Web. 21 Nov. 2013.
• Winkler, Kathleen. Bullying how to deal with taunting, teasing, and tormenting. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow Publishers, 2005. Print.
• Wolff, Lisa. Teen Depression. San Diego: Lucent Books, Inc., 1999. Print.
Have you ever felt “down in the dumps”? How about sad or unhappy for long periods of time? Has the thought of suicide ever crossed your mind? Between 35% and 50% of adolescents experience depression at some point in their teenage years. Brent Runyon, author of The Burn Journals, experienced a severe type of depression while in middle school.
Although teenage depression cannot always be prevented, it is up to the health care providers to take simple steps by making a difference. While it may be difficult to distinguish between clinical depression and normal adolescent development, a notable indicator is whether symptoms are all-encompassing or situational. Is there a change in the patient’s behavior and mannerisms? Is there a history of familial depression? Has the depressed episode lasted for weeks? The questions are endless, as is the important need for clinicians to ask them. Adolescent depression does not have to be a lifelong battle, and it certainly does not have to end in suicide.
As reported by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), depression occurs in over 26% of adolescents and can lead to morbidity, mortality, and social problems that can last into adulthood (SCREENING FOR DEPRESSION IN ADOLESCENTS -- RISKS AND BENEFITS, 2015). Signs of adolescent depression can sometimes be different than adults, and possibly harder to identify. It is most often identified as an increase in negative behaviors or somatic complaints such as an upset stomach (SCREENING FOR DEPRESSION IN ADOLESCENTS -- RISKS AND BENEFITS, 2015). Behavioral changes that are associated with adolescent depression include an increase in irritability, tantrums, anger outbursts, decrease in school performance, and social isolation (SCREENING
Thapar, A., Collishaw, S., Potter, R., & Thapar, A. K. (2010). Managing and preventing depression in adolescents. BMJ, 340.
Depression is a condition of general emotion dejection and withdrawal; sadness greater and more prolonged than that warranted by any objective reason. The gene for depression can be inherited and passed down the family tree, as well as can come about for reasons unrelated to genes such as psychological or physical factors. If someone has a parent or sibling with depression, the risk of developing depression compared with the average person is 20-30% higher. However, it is not equally manifested in each member that has depression. For some it may manifest itself as intolerance, and for others as sadness or loneliness and can include frequent mood swings.
People constantly overlook the severity of depression, more importantly, major teen depression, which presents a legitimate obstacle in society. The intensity of teen depression results from society’s general lack of acknowledgement of the rising affair. In 2012, “28.5% of teens were depressed” and 15.8% of teens contemplated the option of suicide (Vidourek 1 par. 1), due to their major depression going unnoticed or untreated for. Even teenagers themselves often ignore their depression or remain in denial because neither them nor anyone else recognizes the signs. “A sudden change in behavior is a main sign of someone being depressed, which could lead to having suicidal thoughts,” stated Pam Farkas, a clinical social worker in California (Aguilar 1 par. 8). The warning signs and risk factors of teen depression include behavioral issues, social withdrawal, and inadequate interest in activities (Adolescents and Clinical Depression 2 par. 3), yet the unawareness of these signs does not allow professional medical attention to intercede. Deaths, illnesses, rejection, relationship issues, and disappointment present passages down the negative path of teen depression, but treatments, such as psychotherapy, intervention programs, and antidepressants express ways to subdue this major problem. Knowledge of the increasing dilemma needs to circulate, in order to promote stable teen lives in the present and future world. Understanding major teen depression, the events and incidents that lead to depression, and how to overcome the problem will lead to a decrease in major teen depression and its growing issue in society.
The suicide rate for adolescents has increased more than 200% over the last decade.[2] Adolescent suicide is now responsible for more deaths in youths aged 15 to 19 than cardiovascular disease or cancer. Recent studies have shown that greater than 20% of adolescents in the general population have emotional problems and one-third of adolescents attending psychiatric clinics suffer from depression.[3] Despite this, depression in this age group is greatly underdiagnosed, leading to serious difficulties in school, work and personal adjustment which often continue into adulthood.
School can also be affected in many ways when teens have depression. It can make it harder to concentrate, cause them to have poor attendance, and increase the trouble they cause with the school faculty (Butler). Another effect of depression is anxiety. Depression oftentimes leads to anxiety, but anxiety is more common to occur in a child on its own, without depression. Anxiety is, for the most part, normal when the body knows there is danger. This can become an issue when it evolves into such a problem that the person suffering cannot function because they are too scared to do anything (Steingard). Not only are depression and anxiety bad enough, but there are side effects of both disorders that can also affect the teenager. These side effects can include low energy, poor concentration, and withdrawal, and these cause issues with academic and social function (Steingard). Because there are so many effects of depression, treatment is extremely
Teenage Depression. Everywhere you look these two words appear together as one, in newspapers and magazines, as well as in scholarly reports. Teenage depression is one of today's "hot topics" this among other teenage mental health problems, has been brought to the forefront of public consciousness in recent years after several incidents involving school shootings (CQ 595). The environment that teens grow up in today is less supportive and more demanding than it was twenty years ago. Not only are the numbers of depressed teens rising, but children are also being diagnosed at younger and younger ages. Studies have found that, "There is an estimated 1.5-3 million American children and adolescents who suffer from depression, a condition unrecognized in children until about 20 years ago" (CQR 595). This increase in depression is due to social factors that teenagers have to deal with everyday. A recent study found that, "About five percent of teenagers have major depression at any one time. Depression can be very impairing, not only for the affected teen, but also for his or her family-and too often, if not addressed, depression can lead to substance abuse or more tragic events" (NAMI.org). Gender roles and other societal factors including the pressures on girls to look and act a certain way, the pressures on boys to suppress their emotions and put on a tough front and the pressures on both sexes to do well in school and succeed, all contribute to depression in teens today. Depression is a growing problem which crosses gender lines and one that needs to be dealt with with more than just medication.
twenty-four, experience a serious level of depression. Women are generally the most commonly affected among young people. A depressed teen is more likely to get into various forms of trouble such as rebellion, truancy...
Teenage depression is a growing problem in today's society and is often a major contributing factor for a multitude of adolescent problems. The statistics about teenage runaways, alcoholism, drug problems, pregnancy, eating disorders, and suicide are alarming. Even more startling are the individual stories behind these statistics because the young people involved come from all communities, all economic levels, and all home situations-anyone's family. The common link is often depression. For the individuals experiencing this crisis, the statistics become relatively meaningless. The difficult passage into adolescence and early adulthood can leave lasting scars on the lives and psyches of an entire generation of young men and women. There is growing realization that teenage depression can be life- changing, even life threatening.
M.A, M. S., Barston, S., Ph.D, J. J., Dumke, M.A, L. F., & Ph.D, J. S. (n.d.). Teen Depression: Signs, Symptoms, and How to Help. Helpguide.org: Understand, Prevent and Resolve Life's Challenges. Retrieved May 17, 2010, from http://helpguide.org/mental/depression_teen.htm
Both adults and children have bad days. Some days are worse than others. Sometimes the bad days seem to never end. They can last for weeks, months, or even years. When this happens, it is known as depression. Depression is a psychological illness that changes the way that you think and feel while also affecting your sense of physical health and social interactions. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 10 adults reported having depression. That may seem troubling, but the most troubling statistic is that about 11 percent of adolescents have a depressive disorder by age 18 according to the National Comorbidity Survey-Adolescent Supplement (NCS-A). As the child gets older, their risk of becoming depressed also
Empfield, M., Bakalar, N. (2001). Understanding Teenage Depression: A Guide to Diagnosis, Treatment and Management, Holt Paperbacks, New York.
Teenager depression can be a major obstacle to teenagers actualizing their dreams and goals in life. This can have several negative effects on the life of teenagers and their families. The causes of teenager depression may be grouped mainly into two categorizes; they are psychological and environmental causes. The psychological factors/causes deals with the less physical but mental causes of teen depression. While the environmental factors/causes deal mainly with the more physical and obvious causes.