Mind4Youth

Author: Michaela Cosart

If you’re in high school, you’re undoubtedly going to be dealing with many new experiences, some of which can be very challenging. Perhaps you’re trying to navigate new friendships, maybe you’re in the early days of your first romantic relationship. You might be dealing with difficult situations at home and your worries can follow you to school, no matter how hard you try to dismiss them. There might be times when you are
struggling with your academics and things in the classroom just aren’t making sense. You might be trying to figure out what exactly you want to do with your life beyond high school–and let me tell you, making this decision is not always easy. Plus, let’s not forget that the cherry on top of all of this is that your body and hormones are changing, as well.
Clearly, a lot can be going on in your life all at once, and it can feel totally
overwhelming. In some cases, all of these concerns can build up and make you feel a deep sense of sadness, as well as an inability to take control of your life. While it’s normal to feel overwhelmed sometimes, if these negative feelings persist, there’s a chance you or someone you know could be dealing with depression.

What is Teen Depression?
The Mayo Clinic Staff defines teen depression as “a serious mental health problem that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest in activities.” It can have a big impact on the way that you think, feel, and behave. According to Dr. Ron J. Steingard, in an article written for the Child Mind Institute, there are two main kinds of depression: major depressive disorder and dysthymia.

Major depressive disorder is the most common of the two and can be identified when you or someone you know has particularly bad stretches of depression over the course of several months. Dysthymia tends to be a bit milder, but it has the potential to last years.

While there are differences in the way that these types of depression present themselves in teens, it is vitally important to treat both of them as early as possible in order to minimize their long-term effects.

Beyond Blue, a national, independent, nonprofit organization based in Australia that provides free mental health services and resources to people in need offers a brief overview of depression in this short clip: What is depression?

Though experts aren’t completely certain about what causes depression, there are multiple things that can contribute to it. For instance, if your brain chemistry is in any way impaired or abnormal, you are at a greater risk of having depression. Similarly, if the hormones in your body aren’t balanced, there is the possibility that depression will result from this imbalance. There is also a greater likelihood of you developing
depression if one of your family members has been diagnosed with depression, as well, since your genes can also influence whether or not you are more prone to experiencing depression. Another possible indicator that you or someone you know will experience depression is if you have undergone any early childhood trauma, like abuse or the loss of
a loved one, as these traumatic events can cause physical changes in your brain that can then lead to depression. Teen depression might also be connected to learned patterns of negative thinking and feelings of helplessness. While it isn’t totally clear what causes depression in youth, it is obvious that many factors can contribute to it. Knowing what they are can be extremely helpful.

Verywell / Joshua Seong 

Is Depression in Teens Preventable?
While there is no guaranteed way to prevent depression in yourself or the people you know and care about, there are certain things you can do to try to decrease the risk of depression. Many of these include becoming involved with people and activities in your community, as well as staying mindful of your own mental well-being.

Listed below are some possible prevention methods:
❖ Strategize ways to manage your stress
❖ Implement self-care practices in your daily life
❖ Ask your friends and family for help whenever you need support
❖ Seek treatment at the first signs of depression
❖ If a healthcare professional suggests it, continue with ongoing treatment

Although there is no assured way to prevent depression, these strategies will certainly help you lessen your chances of experiencing it. Prioritizing your mental health is important and so is recognizing when you need help. Sometimes, the hardest part about seeking treatment is taking that first step of reaching out to someone. However, it is the step that can truly make all of the difference.

How To Identify Signs of Depression
It is possible to identify signs of depression, and in fact there are a number of behaviors that you can look out for if you suspect that you or someone you know is suffering from depression. Typically, both emotional and behavioral changes will occur. The Mayo Clinic Staff shares these changes.

Listed below are some of the emotional changes that an individual might experience:
❖ Feelings of sadness, hopelessness, emptiness, frustration, or anger
❖ Irritability with situations you find yourself in or the people around you
❖ Loss of interest or pleasure in the activities that you usually find fun
❖ Strained relationships with family and friends
❖ Lowering of your self-esteem
❖ Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
❖ Fixation on your past failures, a tendency to be overly critical of yourself, or exaggerated self-blame
❖ Extreme sensitivity to rejection and the constant need for reassurance
❖ Trouble thinking, concentrating on tasks, and making decisions
❖ Forgetfulness
❖ Persistent feeling that your life and future are dark and bleak

Here are some of the behavioral changes that can occur:
❖ Tiredness and loss of energy
❖ Inability to sleep or sleeping too much
❖ Changes in appetite that could either lead to weight gain or loss
❖ Substance abuse
❖ Agitation or restlessness
❖ Delayed thinking, speaking, or body movements
❖ Frequent complaints of unexplained body aches and headaches
❖ Social isolation
❖ Poor academic performance or frequent absences from school
❖ Less attention to personal hygiene or your appearance
❖ Angry outbursts, disruptive or risky behavior, or other acting-out behaviors
❖ Self-harm
❖ Making a suicide plan or a suicide attempt

Verywell / Jo Zixuan Zhou 

All of these changes can have a big–and negative–impact on your life and that is why it is so important to be aware of the symptoms of depression in yourself and others so that you can seek help as soon as possible.

Treating Depression in Teens

Depression is treatable. Recognizing that there is hope and a light at the end of the tunnel is key to beginning the process of learning how to manage your depression. While at times it might seem like it, you are not alone. There are people and treatments that can help you. Mental Health America (MHA), the nation’s leading national nonprofit organization that is committed to promoting mental health and well-being, shares some of the types of treatment that are available to those dealing with
depression.

There are several different types of therapy that one can undergo:
❖ Psychotherapy (or Talk Therapy): this type of therapy allows teens to safely explore and discuss the events and feelings that are difficult for them to cope with
❖ Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): this type of therapy helps those who are suffering from depression change their negative thought patterns and behaviors
❖ Interpersonal Therapy: this type of therapy assists teens in strategizing and developing ways to improve their relationships both at home and at school.

Medication, or types of antidepressants, can also be used to treat depression. Usually, medication will be used in addition to a teen receiving some type of therapy. A healthcare professional will discuss your options with you and make recommendations about what might be the most beneficial treatment plan for you.

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) also provides a short video on what depression is and what some of your treatment options are:
Mental Health Minute: Depression .

Suicide in Teens
Though many people who experience depression aren’t suicidal, it does have a large impact on youth. In his article on teen depression, Dr. Ron J. Steingard states that “suicide is the third leading cause of death among adolescents and young adults aged 15 to 24, and we know that most kids who [die by] suicide have been suffering from a psychiatric illness.” Lauren Krouse, in an article published by The Jed Foundation, shares that depression is associated with a higher risk of suicide.
However, suicide is preventable.

Just because someone may experience suicidal ideation, it does not mean that death is a foregone conclusion. Rather, by learning the signs that could indicate that someone is suicidal, you are enabling yourself to offer help to those who are struggling.

MHA shares some of the warning signs that you can use to try to identify if someone you know might be suicidal:
❖ Threats of suicide (both direct and indirect)
❖ They have an obsession with death
❖ Writing poems or essays with death as their topic
❖ Creating drawings that depict death or dying
❖ Giving away belongings or possessions that were once important to them
❖ Drastic transformation of their personality and/or appearance
❖ Irrational or otherwise bizarre behavior
❖ Feelings of extreme guilt, shame, or rejection
❖ Change in sleeping patterns (getting more or less than usual)
❖ Difference in eating patterns (seen in possible weight gain or loss)
❖ Decrease in academic performance and school participation

It is critical that you keep a close eye on anyone who you think might be suicidal. Every second counts when it comes to helping someone who is planning on attempting suicide.

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, contact the following:
❖ The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7/365. All you have to do is call or text 988 and someone will be able to assist you. You can also chat with a crisis counselor at 988lifeline.org.
❖ If you need immediate assistance due to someone actively attempting suicide, dial 911 right away.

Conclusion: Standing Up, Speaking Out, and Spreading Hope
Depression is a serious mental health condition that can negatively impact teens in a wide variety of ways. However, it is imperative that you know that you are never alone and help is only one conversation away. Being willing to talk about depression and suicide is crucial to being able to help someone who is suffering from depression.

It was one such conversation with her mother that put Skylar Moore, a teen who struggled with depression for many years and has now learned to manage it, on the path to healing. If you’d like to listen to her story of hope and new beginnings–with all of the highs and lows included–click here:

Though depression can make things seem bleak, you have a world of possibilities ahead of you, and together, if we stand up, speak out, and spread awareness, healing and happiness are sure to follow.

Works Cited

America, Mental Health. “Depression in Teens.” Mental Health America,
http://www.mhanational.org/depression-teens-0. Accessed July 24 2024.
“Depression: One Teen’s Story | You Are Not Alone | KET.” YouTube, uploaded by KET – Kentucky Educational Television, 12 Dec. 2018,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-aBn7SDHeA.

Krouse, Lauren. “What Is the Connection Between Depression and Suicide?” The Jed Foundation,
http://www.jedfoundation.org/resource/what-is-the-connection-between-depression-and-suicide/. Accessed July 25 2024.

“Mental Health Minute: Depression.” YouTube, uploaded by National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), 5 Mar. 2020, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQhpetkwWnM.

Seong, Joshua. “Depression Causes.” Verywell Mind, 16 June 2023,
http://www.verywellmind.com/common-causes-of-depression-1066772. Accessed 23 July 2024.

Staff, Mayo Clinic. “Teen depression.” Mayo Clinic, 12 Aug. 2022,
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/teen-depression/symptoms-causes/syc-2350985. Accessed 24 July 2024

Steingard, Dr. Ron J. “What Are the Symptoms of Depression in Teenagers?” Child Mind
Institute, http://www.childmind.org/article/what-are-the-symptoms-of-depression-in-teenagers/. Accessed 22 July 2024.

“What is depression?” YouTube, uploaded by Beyond Blue Official, 23 Aug. 2022, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oh_SSc492Ac.

Zhou, Jo Zixuan. “Symptoms of Depression in Teens.” Verywell Mind, 7 Aug. 2022, http://www.verywellmind.com/teen-depression-3200844. Accessed 23 July 2024.