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What are the causes and effects of teenage depression and how can we help

Page history last edited by Bee Hanna 1 yr ago

Teen Depression 

Depression is an illness of the mind; it involves a person's body, mood, and thoughts. Depression affects the way a person eats and sleeps, how they think about themselves, and how they think in general. Having depression is not the same as being depressed. Being depressed is having a bad day where something has gone wrong and soon the black mood fades. Having depression is an illness that causes severe sadness for no particular reason and the sadness or depression does not fade, it takes time and professional help to treat. Depression is not sign of personal weakness but rather an illness that needs time and care to treat.  

 

Causes of Teen Depression

 

Biological Factors

  • Teens that suffer form depression have a chemical imbalance in their brain. The serotonin, or the neurotransmitters, in the brain transmit feelings of happiness and pleasure, a teen with depression has low amounts of serotonin in their brain resulting in the feelings of happiness and pleasure not to be transmitted through the gap in the nerve cells.

  • Teens that have family members with a history of depression or other mental diseases are more likely to suffer from the disease. Statistics show that 20%-50% of teens that suffer from depression have at least one family member that has a history of depression.

Personal Traits

  •  A teen with a negative outlook on life is more likely to develop depression because they see mostly the bad in life depriving them of happiness.

  • A teen that has low self-esteem is more likely to develop depression because they don't belive in themselves and are more susceptible to the negative outlooks of others and themselves. 

Other Factors 

  •  Teens that have unrealistic expectations for themselves or from others suffer from depression because of the low self-esteem they experience after they fail.
  •  Loss of a relationship is another factor because the loss can result in severe sadness or low self-esteem which can lead to depression.
  •  Loss of a loved one can also cause depression because of the loss of support from the loved one or severe sadness because of the loss both may lead to depression.
  •  Dysfunction in the home also causes problems that may develop into depression for a teen because without the loving support of family members the teen may not be able to cope with stress from other areas in their life or the dysfunction, such as divorce, abusive family members, or unrealistic expectations, may cause the stress.
  •  Abuse is also a factor because if a teen suffers abuse of any kind, physical, sexual, mental or verbal, it may cause low self-esteem, guilt, anger, sadness, or a number of other emotions that could lead to depression.

Any of these factors combined with a lack of coping skills can lead teens into depression that can result in multiple consequences for both the teen and others.

 

Effects of Teen Depression

 

  • Problems in school
  • Running away
  • Substance abuse
  • Low self-esteem
  • Eating disorders
  • Internet addiction
  • Self-injury
  • Reckless behavior
  • Violence
  • Suicide

The most common effect or action taken by a depressed teen is self-injury.

The most drastic measure taken by a depressed teen is suicide; most suicides can be prevented if the teen is properly treated.

 

Signs and Symptoms

 

  • Sadness and/or hopelessness
  • Irritability, anger, and/or hostility
  • Tearfulness and/or frequent crying
  • Withdrawal from friends and family
  • Loss of interest in activities
  • Changes in eating or sleeping
  • Restlessness and/or agitation
  • Feelings of worthlessness and/or guilt
  • Lack of enthusiasm and/or motivation
  • Fatigue and/or lack of energy
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Thoughts of death and/or suicide

 

Tips for Helping

 

If you think you know a teen that is depressed these are some helpful hints to help them get on their way to recovery. 

  • Offer support
  • Be gentle but persistent
  • Listen without lecturing
  • Most importantly validate their feelings, they know what they are feeling better than you do

 

Actions ot Take

 

If you know a teen that is depressed get help, these are some good actions to take. If you are not an adult please do not take these actions but tell an adult and let then handle the situation. 

  • Visit a family doctor
  • Seek out a specialist
  • Explore treatment options

 

Treatment Options

 

  • Medication
  • Therapy 

 

Prevention

 

  • Stay active 
  • Eat a balanced diet
  • Keep in touch with friends and family
  • Learn new skills
  • Get a hobby
  • Find ways and time to relax

 

Satistics

 

  • 1in every 12 teens suffers from depresson
  • 20% of teens in the U.S. suffer from depression before reaching adulthood

Out of the 20% that suffer...

  • 5% suffer serious depression
  • 8.3% suffer depression for a year
  • Less than 33% get help
  • 80% can be treated successfully
  • 20%-50% have relatives that have a history of depression

 

Here is the pwoerpoint from our presentation in class

teen depression2.ppt

Videos from class

The Pain Inside (video 1)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNJj23oAMmM&NR=1

Teen Depression & Suicide (video 2)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHynDpYv1Gw

 

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