Literature Review On Teenage Depression

Even though the discussion about mental health has become more common, teenage mental health is often left neglected. 37 percent of students 14 and older drop out of school because of mental illnesses like depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder, and the number continues to grow (“Mental Health by the Numbers”). Untreated mental illness in teens can be particularly debilitating because of the added stress from family life, school, work, and the pressure of adolescence. Teenage brains are still learning and developing, yet some are suffering so much that they commit suicide, the third most common cause of death in young adults (“Suicide”).

Depression is a common disorder throughout the world that affects all age groups. Although rare in young children, depression disrupts the lives of many teenagers. In the United States, 11.2% of 13 to 18 year olds are affected by depressive disorders annually (National Institute of Mental Health). Depression during youth is particularly destructive since it not only causes a loss of relationships and

There is no “One Reason” that the amount of depressed teenagers is so high because It all depends on what each person is dealing with, which causes their depression.

Depression has become a daunting problem around the world, with the World Health Organization listing it as the leading cause of disability.1 As well, in 2030 it is anticipated to be second on a list of fifteen major disease burdens.2 In the United States, depression is a large, but often overlooked epidemic. It is estimated that 6.7% of the U.S. population suffer from depression yearly, with a lifetime diagnosis rate of approximately 16%.3,4 Additionally, it is estimated that 4-5% of adolescents are suffering from depression each year, with a lifetime prevalence rate of 11.7% in youth aged 13 to 18.5,6 Although 60-90% of adolescent episodes last one year or less, 50-70% percent are expected to relapse within 5 years.5

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

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

Most people do not realize how prevalent depression is in our society, especially among the youth. It is seen as taboo and more often than not, it is “swept under the rug.” Also, there are many different stereotypes revolving around depression and the people suffering from it. People believe that depression looks a certain way and some even believe that sufferers are only looking for attention. However, that is not the case. Depression is a very important problem that should be taken very seriously. The purpose of this research paper is to inform the public. Specifically, to answer the question of whether teenagers are affected by depression more than adults. If people are more aware of the issue, then people suffering from depression will feel more comfortable reaching out and getting the help that they need and deserve. It is important because depression is misunderstood. The people suffering from depression do not deserve to be judged for something that they can not control. How can someone judge something that they do not understand? If the community understood it better that could reduce the amount of judgment and negativity directed towards depression.

The record amounts of anxiety, stress, and depression rates are rising rapidly but no one is taking notice. It’s been found that almost 14 million children in the United States have diagnosable mental disorder

There are many issues that are currently trending in the field of human growth and development. One of the most common issues is depression. A depressive disorder can best be defined as an illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts. This particular disorder can interfere with daily life and normal functioning. Depression has become an issue for millions of Americans. While studying about this topic, I found an article that really gave insight to what this issue really is. The article itself is centered on depression in teens, rather than other ages.

There are many significant public health issues affecting our youth in today’s society. According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, 3.2 million adolescents are at risk for developing depression. The World Health Organization has predicted that by the year 2020, one of the largest disease burdens will be depression. Depression is an epidemic that is widespread among teens. It has an extraordinary impact on quality of life. Therefore, more research is necessary to determine what factors can reduce teen depressive rates. (Mammen and Falkner, 2013). Depression is a misunderstood disease. It is more than just sadness. The American Psychological Association describes people with depression as being disinterested and losing the pleasure they used to find in daily activities. Often times they will experience significant

A whopping twenty percent of teens have depression before they reach adulthood; about ten to fifteen percent suffer from depression at any given time. These statistics may seem frightening to you, but it gets even worse: only thirty percent of teens are treated for depression. Even with all the glorious medical institutions in America, there is still a lack of a clearly defined treatment for depression. The typical process of diagnosis is as follows: the teenager is taken to a psychiatrist, the teenager is diagnosed with clinical depression, the teenager is prescribed antidepressants, and the teenager begins psychotherapy. Ideally, the first battery of drugs, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, tends to help the very severe cases of clinical depression, but it does not have an effect on milder cases. If the first battery of

DeLucia, V., Kelsberg, G., Safranek, S., & Neher, J. (2016). Q/Which SSRIs most effectively treat depression in adolescents?. Journal Of Family Practice, 65(9), 632-634.

There are about 350 million people in the world that have depression. Teenagers get depression and most of the time it carries on into their adult lives. In 2012 16 million adults have had at least one depressive episode. That is about 6.9 percent of the total population. Most of these adults had depression when they were teens. Teenage depression is one of the most common forms of depression. Having depression can result in you not really doing anything in you adult life, because it can effect you just as much as it did in your teenage

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.