Adolescent Depression : A Qualitative Study

It is not uncommon to hear stories about a teenager experiencing mood swings and rebelling against those in authority. Nor is it uncommon to experience general sadness or anxiety in high school and college. However, it is often difficult to tell the difference between normal teenage angst and clinical depression. It is not commonly known that there has recently been a staggering rise of depression in adolescents. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, one in twelve adolescents in the United States suffer from depression, which is 8.3 % of the teenage population. In order to combat the problem of adolescent depression, it is essential that parents take an active role in their adolescent’s life by both acknowledging and

Over the past few years’ teenage depression has drastically increased due to multiple factors such as peer pressure and bullying. According to Linda Lamb’s article Young People Can Suffer From Depression, Too,” The suicide rate among teenagers [today] is about 10 per 100,000”. A handout from the Health and Human Services Department and National Institute of Mental Health stated,” in the last 25 years, the rate of suicide among teenagers and young adults has increased dramatically.” The awareness of teenage depression has increased and the public are taking steps to reduce it, however schools and parents can do more to prevent it such as a day of awareness or even so much as considering the possibility that a teen is

This topic came from the thought that depression is something that all of us have experienced at some point in our lives. It focuses on adolescents because during this period we are young and vulnerable and may not know how to cope with situations or circumstances that may lead us into depression. Factors such as going through puberty and issues at home with parents can all cause depression. This paper will talk about what is depression, how families can affect depression in the child, and how depression can lead to long term effects.

Despite the rise in teen depression the study which analyzed data from the national surveys on drug use and health reported that there really isn’t mental health treatment for adolescents and young adults but there is a growing number of young people who go un-treated or under-treated and for those who did get help, treatment tended to be really intense often involving specialized care or prescribed medication. According to the department of health and human resources more than 3 million adolescents aged 12-17 reported at least one major depressive episode in the past year and more than two million reported to have severe depression that messed up their daily functioning or in other words it affected their schedules.

Depression is one of the most commonly diagnosed psychiatric disorders among school-aged youth, with high prevalence and far-reaching consequences (Probst, 2008). “School Phobia and excessive clinging to parents may be symptoms of depression in children. Poor academic performance, substance abuse, antisocial behavior, sexual promiscuity, truancy, and running away may be symptoms of depression in adolescents” (Sadock & Sadock, 2003, p. 554). Depression in adolescents often is an unremitting disorder that predicts ongoing depression and psychosocial impairment (Kratochvil et. at., 2005). It affects the developmental process, resulting in difficulties with concentration and motivation, leading to poor academic performance,

Depression, the dark illness of the mind that grabs you by the throat controlling what you need to do and to say. In this dark state of mind no joy goes through a person, no matter how hard they try it will not penetrate the soul. Suffocating in thoughts of sadness, hopelessness, and anger presses your mind including torturing your soul on a daily bases. I know I have been through this path which is not for the weak of heart, it is an endless road of temptations from drugs, alcohol, and suicide but the best thing to do is look forward, don’t turn to those temptations. Glimmers of hope show when a helping hand reaches out to you, that’s when the light shines the brightest. Many don’t know the cause of depression, but everyone knows the effects and consequences it can have on an adult, but it will mostly affect teens who are at that delicate stage of their lives. I’ve seen kids walk past me with the look of looking forward to nothing in life, by lunch time they stay isolated in their own world, I know how they feel I’m one of those kids I know how they feel. Modern medicine is a temporary healer but the scars are still in us, depression is an ongoing battle every day and night of our lives at any time it can take over and we are a different on the outside while our real selfs are trapped in a cage of our negative thinking. Therapist really do try

Depression is a disease that afflicts the human psyche in such a way that the afflicted tend to act and react abnormally toward others and themselves. Adolescent depression is greatly under diagnosed, and leads to serious difficulties in school, and personal adjustment. The reason why depression is often overlooked in children is because children are not always able to express how they feel. Therefore, teachers should be trained in dealing with depressed youths, and to advise the parents of the child to seek professional treatment. School is the place where children spend most of their waking hours learning, socializing, and growing. A child needs to be mentally healthy in order to learn properly, and sometimes problems arise at home, with

A depressive disorder is an illness involving the body, mood, and thoughts (Psychology Today). However, every person is different, and their way of describing depression will most likely not be the same as others. A teenage girl may describe it as a never ending hole she fell into, while a middle age man can describe it as feeling like he is drowning, but breathing just fine. Depression has come to be one of society’s most substantial issues, yet it never seems to get the right amount of attention. Teenagers tend to be what the average person thinks of when they hear the word depression. They think that since some adolescents are quieter, dress differently, or act a certain way that they are sad and emotional. Sometimes it can be the person

The rate of adolescents with clinical depression, particularly among young teen girls and young women, has increased over the decade ending in 2014. Major depressive episodes, also known as clinical depression, occur when someone develops a depressed mood or a loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities along with other depressive symptoms consistently for at least two weeks.

Major depression is one of the common disorders in adolescents. Depression in adolescents is common due to their inability to process emotions in a health manor (Martin, 2016). Depression in adolescents is defined as mood swings, alternating period of depression, and mania also known as Bipolar Disorder. Depression is a main problem in adolescence and childhood stages of life. It isn’t usual for an adolescent to feel down or occasionally depressed. Being an adolescent is usually the toughest time with many physically, emotional, and social changes. Depression maybe hard to diagnose in some individuals because most adults just expect teens to act moody. Many adolescents also do not always understand their feeling, and don't quite know how to

Another main cause of Clinical Depression would be childhood problems. This can take shape in many ways. For some, an abusive parent can be the trigger for the disease. For others, it can happen outside of home, such as from bullying. Close observations of how children act as they grow older can determine if they are at risk for the disease. “Four out of Five teens who attempt suicide have given clear warning signs” (“Youth Suicide Statistics”). By detecting these signs, help can be given that will prevent and long-term damage done by the

Only in the past two decades has depression in adolescents been taken seriously. Depression is an illness that involves the body, mood and thoughts. It affects the way a person eats and sleeps, the way one feels about oneself, and the way one thinks about things. Therefore it comes to no surprise to discover that adolescent depression is strongly linked to teen suicide. Adolescent suicide is now responsible for more deaths in youths aged 15 to 19 than cardiovascular disease or cancer (Blackman, 1995). Despite this alarming increased suicide rate, depression in this age group is greatly under diagnosed and can lead to serious difficulties in school, work, and

Depression is a severe mood disorder and it is the most frequently diagnosed psychiatric disorder amongst adolescents. Depression is a state that adolescents can fall easily into. Teenagers spend more time with their friends than they do with their families which can result is possible rejection of peers. Individuals feel the need to have approval of self-worth by their peers. If they get disapproval, this can lead to brutal symptoms. (Platts, Kadosh, Lau 6). The symptoms can vary from self-worthlessness, anxiety, or a

Depression a word we’re familiar with especially when it comes to adults, we know adults get depress and we understand the reasons, with the high demands in life it’s not uncommon to get lost in the shuffle. Depression in adult is something we have known for many years, but what has surprised many of us is that adolescents also get depressed. I myself still don’t fully understand the reasons why or how this happens. I see it very often adolescent coming in to the ER because they are depressed and want to hurt themselves, and each and every single time I’m shock. What could be so bad in their lives that would make them think they have no way out? This is the reason why I choice this topic, I want to learn more of how this disease affects so many children and teens and what we can do to stop it.

Today’s teenagers are faced with the ever changing world around them and the biological changes of their bodies. Many teens are also faced with depression. Approximately half of teenagers with untreated depression may attempt suicide, which remains the third leading cause of death in this age group. (Bostic). This depression affects their school, family lives, and robs them of their self image. Depression affects many teens and often goes by unnoticed and untreated.