Teenage Depression - Teen Suicide

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.

We have all experienced this feeling at least once in our life; the feeling of not being good enough, the feeling of always getting the short end of the stick one would say. Some individuals have felt this for only a few days, some for a few weeks but for others this certain type of negative feeling never goes away until the person does something about it mentally or physically. That something can lead a person to the point they think the only way out is ending their own life. Suicide is a topic that cannot be overlooked. Teen suicide is the third leading cause of death in today’s youth. With these statistics, the question rises are teenagers asking adults for help or are adults ignoring the signs? Teen suicide can be preventable, and the way

One can become depressed because of an array of multiple things. While some people feel like depression is all in one’s head, it is a very real thing. Most teenagers become depressed because of all the stress they have, and the changes they are going through. These teenagers usually have to go through this alone because the parents won’t admit that their child really needs help which further depresses the child. Researchers found that teenage boys who had depressive symptoms and high levels of the stress hormone cortisol were 14 times more likely to be clinically depressed than those who show either trait (Knapton).

Kutner, Max. "Teen Suicide Is Contagious, and the Problem May Be Worse Than We Thought;

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 too much teen suicide in the United States. Many teens who are depressed have mental issues such as depression, anxiety, bipolar, schizophrenia, etc. Often, teens who have these issues feel as if they don’t belong. They don’t feel like talking about certain things going on in their life. Issues regarding sexuality, bullying, and abuse make children feel hopeless and unwanted. They feel alone. The suicide rate has gone up dramatically. There are approximately 100,000 suicides per year and 10,000 to 20,000 of them being from ages 14 to 24. Suicide is also the 3rd leading cause of death for teens.

Depression can destroy the essence of a teen’s personality, which can cause an overwhelming sense of sadness, anger, and despair. Depression is a serious problem that impacts every aspect of a person’s life. Signs and symptoms of depression can include sadness and hopelessness; irritability, anger, hostility; frequent crying; withdrawal from friends and family; a loss of interest in activities; changes in eating and sleeping habits; restlessness and aggravation;

Often dismissed as childish “moodiness,” depression is one of the most common psychological problems that afflict teenagers. For most teens, the effects of their depression can be felt throughout every area of their lives, from relationships

Teen suicide is one of the largest problems facing America at the moment, and it will only become worse if the country does not come up with a solution. “According to the American Psychiatric Association, suicide is the third leading cause of death for young people between eleven and eighteen years of age (Teen Suicide).” American families can not keep losing sons and daughters to this entirely preventable epidemic. The largest issue with teen suicide is that Americans are using largely outdated and/or ineffective strategies in dealing with teen suicide, and Americans need to realize that this problem will not just go away. Using the old methods, such as telling teens to toughen up, are clearly not working and in some cases are contributing to the problem. Teen suicide is alarmingly on the rise and “According to the CDC, 5,504 people ages 10 to 24 died by suicide in 2014, the most recent year in which statistics are available. The figure was up from the grim 2013 tally of 5,264, and the number has risen every year and up 13 percent from 2010 (Corbin).” There are several causes for teen suicide that range from depression to concussions, and for each cause there are several proposed solutions to suicide or its causes, but many of the solutions will cause more problems instead of solving current ones, Americans need to utilize effective suicide prevention strategies and ignore the useless and outdated ones.

It is apparent that bullying has become a serious problem in today’s society. It affects people of all ages, and the results of bullying can be disastrous and devastating; suicide is just one of many examples of a consequence of bullying. We need to all come together and think of a plan that can help stop bullying. People don’t understand how terrible it feels to get bullied until it happens to them. We are the ones doing the bullying, whether it’s directly or indirectly, so it is up to us to put an end to it. As previously shown, there are quite a number of myths surrounding the topic of teenage suicide; when the myths are addressed and made clear, it is easier for people to get a better understanding of teen suicide and how to deal with it. Many people have come to believe that you cannot tell when someone is contemplating suicide. They also usually believe that suicide cannot

Depression does not only affect the child with the illness, but it also influences the people surrounding them. Friendship is based on the fact that the two people enjoy each others company. When one is depressed, the joy and happiness that is usually felt with a friend can disappear, leaving a strain on that

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

A new study suggested that extended use of electronic devices, such as laptops, smartphones, and tablets may cause symptoms of depression in teens. According to the researchers from the San Diego State University and Florida State University that people, particularly teens, who spend more time in social media are more vulnerable to develop depression.

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.