Increased Depression in School Aged Children Some studies indicate that today’s youth are ten times more likely than fifty years ago (Wickramaratne, 1989). Many credit the increase in depression statistics to greater understanding and awareness of depressions itself, moreover, there are concerns that although over the last five decades, virtually every aspect of American life has improved (Seilgman, Ernst, Gillham, Reivich, & Linkins, 2009). Americans have greater purchasing power, larger homes, more cars, better careers, less effect racism, women’s rights, more entertainment, less pollutants, dynamic music and better education, yet depression is on the rise. Is it possible that the lack of positivity education is at the root of this depression increase? Positive psychology was formally introduced by Martin E.P. Seligman to the American Psychological Association (APA) in his 1998 Presidential address (Seilgman, Ernst, Gillham, Reivich, & Linkins, 2009). However, there is irrefutable evidence that peripheral ideations can be found dating back to American philosopher and psychologist William James studies, citing one’s ability to alter their attitude can alter their outcome (Froh, 2004 pg. 18).
Benefits of a Positive Education American students spent 30-35 hours per week in school, between the ages of six and seventeen, the daily actions with peers, teachers, coaches and principals Schools are an excellent location for well-being initiatives for several
After School projects can bolster regions' endeavors to actualize and assess nearby wellbeing approaches in two critical ways. One route is to offer extra open doors for a composed physical movement and nourishment and physical instruction. Another is to execute program arrangements and practices that strengthen the region's nearby health strategy and bolster its objectives for wellbeing, accordingly guaranteeing consistency from the school day to the after school hours. The Afterschool Alliance has built up this toolbox to feature opportunities for after school pioneers and supporters to end up engaged with and help shape the procedure along at all times.The Afterschool Alliance is the main association devoted to bringing issues to light of the significance of afterschool programs and pushing for more afterschool ventures to guarantee that all youngsters approach moderate, quality afterschool programs.The Afterschool Alliance has made and recognized assets to control you through the way toward distinguishing, drawing in and keeping up associations with
As Americans, we are generally recognized as a “positive and optimistic” group of people. This is our reputation as well as our self-image as a nation. The entire idea of positivity has overruled us and has been set almost as a basic, unquestioned standard in our nation. Through Barbara Ehrenreich’s novel, Bright-Sided, one can essentially generalize ideas about American culture, American society and the American experience in relation to this topic. To begin with, this novel describes to readers that the typical American cultural stereotype includes ideas that we “value the positive affect that seems to signal internal happiness” (Ehrenriech, 13).
The field of positive psychology, founded by Martin Seligman (1998), seeks to influence individuals whose lives are “neutral” and increase their psychological well-being. Positive psychology offers a unique perspective on mental health through focusing on individual strengths rather than dysfunction, pathology, and mental illness (Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi, 2000). The goal of positive psychology is to assist individuals in creating meaningful lives through the promotion of positive emotions, individual character strengths, as well as, eudemonic happiness, as key components to optimal mental health. Like many other contemporary theories, positive psychology borrows principles and
With these long school days children don’t have much time to go out and be a kid. By the time children get home and finish all their homework, there really isn’t much time for sports or spending time with friends and family. Long hours of school put too much pressure on students. According to the state, students are supposed to have three and a half hours of homework a night. Students are assigned about 17 hours of homework a week. There is a total of 168 hours in a week and 64 of those hours are taken from us by school and homework. Out of the 24 hours in a day school, homework, and sleep take 18 hours, which leaves students with just 6 hours to do things. Combine that with sports and after school activities, the average practice for most sports are 2 to 3 hours, which leaves the student with only 3 hours for themselves. If you add dinner into the equation which can take up to an hour ,then students only have two hours a day. Some students also have chores which can take up to an hour or even sometimes more. What can a student do with only 1 hour of time a day for their personal goals.
In Professor Seligman’s TED Talk he presents to us the state of psychology today. Just what is the state of psychology today? According to Seligman it is good, not good, and not good enough. In the “good” update for psychology today, it is beneficial that psychology is progressing forward. Once what was an extreme science of finding out what is wrong with someone has progressed forward into also finding out how to improve one’s life quality. Seligman states that just sixty years ago no disorder was treatable. However in today’s world of modern psychology not only are fourteen disorders treatable, but two are even curable. In the terms of not good, in Seligman’s opinion, there has been too much of an extreme focus on mental illness. Seligman believes that psychology has gone a pessimistic route and in turn forgotten about improving “normal” lives to make people less miserable. He believes that there should not only be interventions in terms of treating mental illness, but also interventions to make people happier. Seligman lists a few different ways that positive psychology could improve itself to go this route. The main idea is that psychologists should be concerned with both strength and weakness of people, therefore building strengths and repairing weakness. From further research in modern positive psychology has sought to answer just what are happy people and what makes them happy? Seligman explains that
During adolescents, there is an increased vulnerability for depression due to biological, cognitive, and socio-environmental changes. For this paper, I will be discussing Scarlet, a 16 year old Hispanic female whose parents have divorced two years ago, and because of that Scarlet has been displaying symptoms of Persistent Depressive Disorder and Oppositional and Defiant Disorder. This paper will review literature which supports Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as being an effective form of treatment for depression with adolescents. I will also review literature which supports Family Therapy as being an effective treatment for adolescents with parent-child relational problems. I will also discuss any issues related to culture,
Childhood Mental Disorders, such as anxiety, depression and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, are chronic health conditions that present between birth and age 18.1 Mental disorders are characterized as a “combination of abnormal thoughts, emotions, and behaviors”2 that may impair a child’s functioning in school, at home, and in everyday life. They are caused by a combination of biological and environmental factors i.e. a family history of anxiety and living below the poverty line. CDC estimates that twenty percent of children in the United States currently suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder3 yet 75-80% of affected individuals do not receive necessary mental health services.4 The underutilization of mental health services may
America’s obsession with happiness is stated in its Declaration of Independence. “The pursuit of happiness” stands as one of mankind’s God-given rights, but is striving for happiness always healthy? The idea that people should take the search for happiness into their own hands is evident of the individualistic nature of Western culture. This individualistic viewpoint shows through the changing diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders such as depression. There have been numerous reports recently on the increasing prevalence of depression and the use of antidepressant medication. Changes in viewpoints regarding mental illness, an increasingly individualist and collectivist society,
It is argued that the field of positive psychology is relatively new and therefore long term evaluation of applications is not available. Critics suggest that its potential is exaggerated, limiting its relevance in today’s society. However, Seligman argued that psychology was too heavily focused on treating mental illness rather than promoting mental health, and aimed to redress the balance between problem behaviour and mental illness. Using the positive approach, he aimed to use a variety of techniques such as meditation and mindfulness to inoculate individuals against future mental and physical ill health. He argued that positive psychology provides tools which can promote psychological well being and allow the human race to adapt to a range of significant economic, environmental and social challenges. Seligman provided some evidence to support his claims of success. 21 replications of Seligman's schools program found evidence of decreased anxiety and depression in participants.
In 2010, the center for disease control defined failure to thrive as inadequate growth or the inability to maintain growth in childhood using a standard growth chart. Diagnosis of failure to thrive is determined when a child`s weight for their age dips below the firth percentile of a normal growth curve. According to Cole and Lanham, in 2011, failure to thrive is seen in five to ten percent of children in the primary care settings. A higher rate of failure to thrive in infants is seen in underprivileged urban and rural areas across the United States. Eighty percent of diagnosed cases of failure to thrive were diagnosed under the age of eighteen months. The epidemiology of failure to thrive is not truly known within the United States of
In Martin Seligman’s TED talk, he explains the values of positive psychology’s impact on creating happier lives. In 2000, Martin Seligman created a new field of psychology called Positive Psychology. This field of positive psychology is the study of positive traits and behaviors that can contribute to a positive “happier” life. In Seligman’s TED talk, The New Positive Era of Psychology, he categorizes positive lives into three categories. The Pleasant life, the life of engagement, and the meaningful life. But before he begins his speech, he explains the negative actions taken by psychology when treating people.
Offered at schools and communities across the world, after school programs have benefited many low and middle income families in need of its safety for children, learning useful study habits, and engaging in social ties with the community. In 2014, 10.2 million American children (18 percent) engaged in an after school program, 15 percent or 8.4 million, children participated in after school programs in 2009 (America After 3pm, 2015). Too many economically disadvantaged neighborhoods do not have the resources to build a high quality program to prepare students for academic success. After school programs can provide valuable life lessons like healthy eating, conflict resolution, and community service to not only allow students
Children, families and communities can all benefit greatly from quality after-school programs. The majority of the time spent by unsupervised children and youth is either watching television or with peers in unsupervised activities. Quality after-school programs provide a safe, supervised environment for these young people and children. After-school programs also provide structured supervised activities, which improves the overall learning process. The students involved in quality after-school programs create more positive relationships with their peers and also with caring responsible adults with whom these students can foster lasting bonds. This in turn helps to harvest students with a higher level of self-esteem. Students that perform better in academics as well as develop stronger social skills.
Teen drugs has been increasing over the last few decades , they are start as early as 8th and continue to increase throughout high school. However, the use of alcohol, cigarettes, and prescription relievers has decreasing over the last few decades. The descriptive statistics show that 50 random individuals that were teeage and had remain anonymous. They was ask about their depression and what type of drugs they use to cope with it. 50% of the adolescent was from low-income, and the other 50% was from a middle class neighborhood. According to the data the used of depression and drugs are about the same from both low-income and middle-class income. Since the teens was anonymous and wasn’t allow to age or sex, the case study wasn’t able to go from in-depth about the group individuals. That
The journal article, “Preventing Symptoms of Depression by Teaching Adolescents that People Can Change: Effects of a Brief Incremental Theory of Personality Intervention at 9-Month Follow-Up,” by Adriana Sum Miu and David Scott Yeager presented an experiment about using an intervention to help slow the rate of symptoms of depression in adolescents, however, an article entitled, “Teens taught that personality traits change in high school cope with depression better,” by Linda Searing misrepresented the journal article.