Major Depressive Disorder And Major Depression

The correlation of mental health and substance use in adolescence is very problematic. Many believe that the relationship between the two are so strong that it plays a causative role in the development of adolescents. It places adolescents at risk for problems within their families, communities, and as an individual. This disease can be severe enough that it impairs the adolescent 's ability to function as a person. Both mental health and substance abuse are entangled within one another, that it makes it difficult to decipher which condition is causing each symptom. However, several research studies concluded that adolescents who suffer from mental illness may self-medicate their symptoms by using drugs. The juvenile justice systems suffer from adolescents with mental health disorders, substance abuse or even both.

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

Adolescence is a critical time of development. During this period there are significant changes in brain development, emotions, cognition, behavior, and personal relationships. It is during this time that most major mental health disorders appear, many of which carry over into adulthood. Behavior patterns such as substance abuse also often develop during this time and may continue throughout adulthood. Many adolescents struggling with mental health issues begin to exhibit symptoms such as acting out at home or in school, showing a decreased interest in activities that they previously enjoyed, or bringing home poor grades. Others ultimately are charged with offenses ranging from status

The survey from 2010- 2014 illustrates results of 41,000 (10.7%) adolescents who reportedly had at least one MDE episode in Alabama (samhsa.gov). Consistent with this, treatments for MDE in adolescents was not decent. The annual average for adolescents between the ages of 12-17 years from 2010-2014, resulted in 32.1% receiving treatment for depression, while 67.9% of adolescents did not receive treatment at all (samhsa.gov).

In an attempt to better understand depression in today’s youth, I have chosen to explore the depths of Major Depressive Disorder and how it affects the young people in our society. Depression amongst school age children and adolescents are the primary focus. The prevalence, adversities, and treatment of the depression are discussed as well. After exploring these few facets of the disorder, I will talk briefly about the Ecological Model developed by Urie Bronfenbrenner and Morris in 1998 that is used by counselors to help evaluate and assess the children who are referred by teachers or medical

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

The article puts an emphasis that rooting out depression in adolescence needs to be more proactive in primary healthcare settings. This is done by not only giving physicians the option to diagnose mental illnesses, but by already instilling it in common check-ups (Healy, 2016). Moreover, Healy (2016) points out that many primary healthcare physicians do not have the proper training to screen and treat their patients for depressive symptoms and other mental disorders. Research shows that when physicians are trained and provided with proper screening processes to diagnose and treat depressive symptoms, there were significant increases in the diagnosis of adolescent depression rates (Fallucco, Bejarano & Kozikowski, 2015). This research supports Healy’s notion that the practice of routinely screening adolescents for symptoms in primary healthcare settings are effective in identifying depression in

Depressive disorders during youth occur frequently. During childhood there are an estimated one to two percent of children between the ages of six and twelve that have a Major depressive disorder. That rate changes to two to five percent in adolescents or ages thirteen to eighteen. Fourteen to twenty five percent of youth experiences at least one episode of major depression before adulthood. Depression has been diagnosed at a much higher rate than in the past few decades. Episodes of major depression will reoccur within a five year time period. Depression is often combined with anxiety disorders, dysthymia, disruptive disorders and, or substance

Evans, D., Foa, E., Gur, R., Hendin, H., O'Brien, C., Seligman, M., & Walsh, B. (Eds.). (2005). Treating and preventing adolescent mental health disorders : What we know and what we don't know : A research agenda for improving the mental health of our youth. Oxford Medicine.

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

Approximately 11.4% of the United States population or 2.8 million American Adolescents between the ages 12-17 have suffered from at least one Major Depressive Episode (MDE) in the year 2014 (National Institute of Mental Health 2014). A MDE is defined as a period of at least two weeks or longer where one experiences a depressed mood, loss of interest, and pleasure and experiences symptoms such as altered appetite, sleep issues , weight loss or gain, lack of energy, and suicidal thoughts or actions. Of these 2.8 million American adolescents suffering from depression less than 33% actually receive treatment (Teen Help 2015). Depression is a highly treatable disease with treatments ranging from therapy to the use of prescribed medication. Recent studies have shown that healthy lifestyle changes can also be an effective treatment for teenage depression and is a much cheaper alternative to more expensive treatment options. A healthy lifestyle can alter one’s brain chemistry thus improving teens mental health, and through healthful eating and daily exercise adolescents and teens can treat and prevent depression and anxiety disorders.

Depression is a disorder that affects the lives of hundreds of thousands teenagers in the United States. Kuehn, B. (2009) states that the “US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends screening adolescents aged 12 through 18 years for depression, but only when systems are in place to ensure proper diagnosis and to provide psychotherapy and follow-up care” (p. 2085). Adolescents need to be heard and understood. A therapy group allows them to see and understand that they are not alone. Role-playing exercises and group activities are beneficial for this group. They are able to get positive support and encouragement from their peers which have a lot of

The research project my group and I decided to do was on teen depression. We wanted teens to be more familiar with this major teen issue and how it affects our daily lives. Teen depression is a major concern and it is not fully acknowledged within high schools. Many people even adults don’t understand the results of teen depression. The statistics on teen depression are sobering. Studies indicate that one in five children have some sort of mental, behavioral, or emotional problem, and that one in ten may have a serious emotional problem. Some quick facts, one in eight teens may suffer from depression. Of all these children and teens struggling with emotional and behavioral problems, 30 % of these teens receive any sort of

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.