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.
What is depression? Depression is the most common of all psychological disorders, affecting 100 million people worldwide. The depression ranges from mild feelings of uneasiness, sadness, and apathy to intense suicidal despair. (Kasschau) If left untreated, it could lead the individual to self-harm or even suicide. Some of the main symptoms of depression include: an inability take pleasure in activities once enjoyed, abnormal eating and sleep patterns, restlessness, inability to concentrate, and suicidal thoughts or actions. Depression affects people of all ages and backgrounds. However, post-pubescent girls are twice as likely to suffer from serious depression as boys, and certain populations, such as gay and bisexual youths and American Indians, suffer higher rates of depression. (Cash) Gay or bisexual individuals suffer from higher rates of depression because a lack of acceptance of their lifestyle.
This disorder affects daily life and causes pain for both oneself and loved ones. So reports indicate that depression can be linked to an increased level of irritation and aggression. (Hyde) Depression can be triggered by many different things and is not limited to just one. Without treatment, depressed teens are at an increased risk for school failure, social isolation, effect one’s life tremendously. All you have to do is lend a hand out to help them through their depression and you could just be saving a life.
Works Cited
- Bostic, Jeff Q. “Teen Depression: When should You Worry?” Newsweek May 16 2005: 52. Proquest. Web. 3 December 2013.
- Cash, Ralph E. “When Depression Brings Teens Down.” The Education Digest. 69.3 (2003): 35-42. Proquest. Web. 22 November 2013.
- “DEPRESSION STIKES HOME.” Children’s Voice Nov 2003: 14-5. Proquest. Web. 26 Nov. 2013Hyde, Margaret O., Forsyth, Elizabeth H. “Depression: What you need to know.” Franklin Watts, 2002Kasschau, Richard A. “Understanding Psychology” Columbus: McGraw-Hill, 2008. Print.
- Martin, Michael J. “Teen Depression”. Lucent Books, 2005. Print. 3 December 2013.
- W. Meghan “10 Things that may cause teenage depression.” Mindyourmind.ca. Mind Your Mind, 22 May 2013. Web. 10 March 2014.
