Teenage Depression Essay

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

Depression in general is an extremely damaging illness and can, of course, become even worse when disregarded. Thus, adults brushing aside behavioral changes and problems in teenagers lead many of them to attempting suicide. In fact, the third leading cause of death for fifteen to twenty-four-year-olds, according to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), is suicide. For almost the entirety of their childhood, adolescents are expected to trust in adults, such as teachers or parents, to recognize their hardships. Teaching them about their own mind and surrounding them in a supporting environment would likely have a positive effect on adolescents. ("7/5 Mental

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.

Teenagers experience strong feelings of stress, confusion, self-doubt, and pressure to succeed while growing up. These are fears that teens face every day and suicide may seem like the solution to their problems. There are many signs for parents to watch for in teenagers: changes in eating and sleeping habits, drug or alcohol abuse, violent actions, rebellious behavior, frequent complaints, and withdrawal from family and friends. Many of these signs and symptoms can be similar to depression. It is important for parents, teachers, and physicians to be aware of these symptoms in adolescents. (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, October 2013).

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

Paediatric depression (depression that usually affects youth ages five to eighteen, or in some cases, individuals up to age twenty-one) is on the rise, and is quickly becoming a significant issue in today’s society. Recent estimates have placed its prevalence at a combined percentage of between two and seven percent for those between the ages of six and eighteen years old. Identified by a range of symptoms including: “low mood, anhedonia [the inability to feel pleasure], defiance, pessimism, morbid thoughts and somatic symptoms,” (710) adolescent depression, very similar to adult depression, takes a toll on the lives of adolescent youth and often alters their personalities, actions and behaviors. It is clear that adolescent depression is a serious illness that should be combatted in a timely and appropriate manner, and Bermingham and Shearer’s suggestion of psychotherapy as an initial method of treatment for people

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, major depression (MD) is characterized by severe feelings of sadness for a prolonged period of time (n.d.). Although depression occurs in multiple episodes, it has the ability to interfere and prevent a person from functioning normally. A person who identifies with this disorder experiences persistent loneliness, feelings of guilt, uselessness, and having thoughts of committing suicide. The onset of depression, like among various mental disorders, first emerges during the adolescent age. Due to the stimulation of neural pathways and behavioural patterns, together with the change in lifestyle because of puberty, the adolescent stage depicts a time of inevitable vulnerability. They become more susceptible to mental health disorders, particularly major depression, as a result of little or no support from parents, peers, or health services. Within the United States, 20% of adolescents have been diagnosed with mental health disorders, twenty percent of which suffer from depression (Shwarz, 2009). Because of the prevalence of depression and other mental disorders on the onset of puberty, it is important to address these issues as early as possible. The strong linkage of depression with suicide also construes a negative effect on adolescents and families overtime. Compared to previous studies, the primary goal of this research paper is to identify sociological factors that help explain the prevalence of depression within the

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 is the most widespread mental illness in today’s society. Studies have found that, 1 out of 8 teens are affected with this disease. It also predominantly affects young ladies than it does males. (www.kidshealth.org). Teens are at a position in their lives when they must face significant transition and peer pressures. They are trying to identify with themselves and trying to figure out where there puzzle piece fits in society, all of which can show the way to behavioral and emotional changes. This is also a stage when families suffer from poor communication: teenagers often tend to keep their feelings and concerns to themselves away from their parents and other authority figures. Therefore, identifying depression in teenagers

In my first source, the authors explored both clinical and epidemiological studies. This study is reliable because they include research about the sleep-wake cycle and depression that has been going on for 25 years. The study also has content, face, convergent, and discriminant validity. The article uses many other peer-reviewed articles to provide proof that sleep disorders are core symptoms of depression. We can see that this source has content validity because the tests provided measured the behavior they intended to measure. There is face validity too because the study appears to measure exactly what it said it was going to measure, which are sleep disorders being core symptoms of depression. Convergent validity is prevalent because,

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, adolescent depression is a very significant problem. In most cases, depression is the leading cause of why adolescents tend to make rash decisions and cause problems to themselves and also for others. Emerging adulthood coincides with adolescents as it is a time of feeling in-between. A child is growing to become a teen, a teen is becoming a young adult, and the young adult is becoming an mature, independent adult. Throughout this time, there are many paths to choose from, hardships to overcome, decisions to make, and experiences to learn from. This can be the most stressful time in a persons life. All of these things contribute to adolescent stress, anxiety, and depression, which very much so, turns to drug-use, juvenile

As some of us may know, depression is reflected as a mental health condition that can lead individuals to attempt/commit suicide against their life. In addition, depression is a disorder that causes individual to feel despondent, and with no goals to achieve. With that said, sometimes these individuals give-up activities that were once entertaining, loses appetite, or begins to overeat, or loses focus on what they are trying to achieve, and becomes inconclusive. According to Kringlen et al., (2001) depression is classified as a second disorder to alcohol abuse and is the most prevalent disorder among the adolescent population. Thus, Joshi et al., (2009) identified mental health ailments to be linked with authoritarian parental styles, then authoritative and permissive parenting style. In accordance with Kringlen et al (2001), McCarthy et al., (2008) classifies adolescent depression to be associated with suicide, and recognize it as the third leading cause of death among adolescents ranging from age 15-24 years old.

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.

“You’re scared to tell people how much it hurts, so you keep it all to yourself (PictureQuotes).” Many parents forget how difficult a teenagers life can be and if there is something hurting the teen on the inside that teen is going to think twice before saying anything to their parents because they feel like there parents just wouldn’t understand them. Many teens feel like keeping their emotions and depression on the inside will help but in reality they need that support of a parent to guide them and be able to have someone that unconditionally understands them without judging for who they are as a person. Many teenagers are afraid of telling there parents things that are happening in their lives because they don’t have that trust that a teen and a parent should have. According to psychcentral by Therese Borchard there is “approximately 20 percent of teens experience depression before they reach adulthood,” which shows how serious this problem has become. Clinical depression is a term often used when a person is feeling a sadness from something that is happening in their lives that is causing them to not want to cope with life anymore. Teenagers and parents having a close bond with each other should lead to a lesser likelihood of clinical depression in teens.