The Causes And Effects Of Teenage Depression And Teenagers

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De’von Downes
Mrs. Hartman
CP English III
16 January 2013
Depression and Teenagers
Statistically in a school of 1,000 students as many as 100 students may be experiencing depression. 13 of those students will attempt suicide within a year and eventually 15 of those 100 students will die at their own hand. In fact over the last couple of years the rate of teenage depression has increased across America (Robin Everall, The Broken Generation) Depression is the most common disease amongst adolescents. After car crashes, suicide is the next leading death of teenagers. Depression is a problem in today’s society, and it needs to be reduced in order for today’s teens to keep their lives.
Scientists aren’t exactly sure what the problem is that causes depression but they know that it has something to do with an imbalance of chemicals in the brain. Specifically the chemical serotonin is linked to depression. These chemicals communicate with each other and (insert the rest). When the chemicals are out of balance they affect the emotions, memories and sensations. Other causes of depression can come from an excessive amount of stress or pressure coming from school or your parents. College is like a home to depression. It’s hard for students to make that transition of living with their parents and basically being a child on day then the next day you’re seen as an adult living away from home expected to pay your own bills and take care of yourself. Students today feel like if they don’t get perfect grades and do everything perfectly in school they will never succeed at anything. It was said that well rounded students seem to more likely to be depressed because they take part in so many activities and think if they don’t do well they will nev...

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...t can show that they do care.
Many insurance companies aren’t really helping to fight depression because they do not cover mental illnesses or the medication for depression. Unfortunately today only 30% of teens suffering from depression are getting treated. Thanks to “ObamaCare”, in 2013 mental illnesses will be covered and this will allow more people to have the chance to treat their depression, it can show that they do care.
In conclusion there are an abundance of teens suffering from depression today and a wide variety of factors can cause it them. Some anti-depressants can cause suicidal thoughts. The best therapy seems to be a combination of CBT and SSRI. Since Depression affects people both physically and emotionally. In the future with the help of the community people can bring depression to a minimum and save lives that depression might otherwise take away.

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