“Default – Stanford Children’s Health.” Stanford Children’s Health – Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford, http://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=understanding-teenage-depression-1-2220.

“Depression In Teens.” Mental Health America, 8 Dec. 2016, http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/conditions/depression-teens.

“Lightening The Mood: Tackling Teenage Depression.” Lightening The Mood: Tackling Teenage Depression | Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, 14 Aug. 2014, http://www.semel.ucla.edu/youth-stress/news/lightening-mood-tackling-teenage-depression?page=2.

“Major Depression in Teens.” Major Depression in Teens – Health Encyclopedia – University of Rochester Medical Center, http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=90&contentid=P01614.

“Parent’s Guide to Teen Depression.” HelpGuide.org, 9 May 2019, http://www.helpguide.org/articles/depression/parents-guide-to-teen-depression.htm/.

“Teen Depression.” MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 15 Feb. 2019, medlineplus.gov/teendepression.html.

“Teen Depression.” National Institute of Mental Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/teen-depression/index.shtml.

“Teen Depression: Causes, Symptoms, Heredity, and Treatments.” WebMD, WebMD, http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/teen-depression.

“The Rise of Teen Depression.” Johns Hopkins Health Review, http://www.johnshopkinshealthreview.com/issues/fall-winter-2017/articles/the-rise-of-teen-depression.

Zraick, Karen. “Teenagers Say Depression and Anxiety Are Major Issues Among Their Peers.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 20 Feb. 2019, http://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/20/health/teenage-depression-statistics.html.

So I am depressed, now what?

Treatment Options

• Speak to someone you can trust. (ie. Teachers, Counselors, Professors, Friends, Parents & etc.)
• Seek professional medical help.
• Talk to a therapist or counselor.
• Most schools provide mental and health services.
• Most college campuses provide free therapy sessions included in tuition.
• Depression is usually treated with psychotherapy, medication, or a combination of the two.
• Antidepressants can be prescribed by a health care professional, but should be considered as a last resort especially for teens.
• Antidepressants can become addicting and may have various side effects (ie. increased suicidal thoughts, dependency, and etc.)

What else can I do to help manage my depression?

Patience is Key

• Stay active and exercise, even if it’s just going for a walk.
• Try to keep a regular sleep schedule.
• Spend time with friends and family.
• Break down school or work tasks into smaller ones and organize them in order of what needs to get done first. Then, do what you can.

What Should I Do If Someone I Know Is Considering Suicide?

REMEMBER THE DO’s AND DON’Ts

If needed…

You can call 1-800-273-TALK (8255), the toll-free number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (NSPL), which is available 24 hours a day, every day. The service is available to everyone. All calls are free and confidential. You can also chat with the NSPL online (http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org).

The Crisis Text Line is another free, confidential resource available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Text “HOME” to 741741 and a trained crisis counselor will respond to you with support and information via text message. Visit https://www.crisistextline.org.

Related Resources:

• Medline Plus (National Library of Medicine): https://medlineplus.gov/teenhealth.html (En español: https://medlineplus.gov/spanish/teenhealth.html)
• NIDA for Teens, Drugs & Health: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org, 1-800-273-TALK (8255), free 24-hour help
• Anti-Bullying: https://www.stopbullying.gov

Global Statistics

How Relevant is Depression Amongst Teens?

• More than 300 Million live with depression
• Almost 800,000 take their own lives (World Health Organization, 2017)

College Students (annually)

• 2nd leading cause of death among students
• About 1,088 students die by suicide (American Association of Suicidology, 2016)

Gender

• Women are 70% more likely to experience depression than men (American Association of Suicidology, 2014)
• This is a result of women having less of serotonin than men.
• Suicide is more common in males (4 to 1) but females are 3x more likely than men to attempt suicide. (Centers for Disease and Prevention, 2015)
• 80-90% of people respond positively to treatment.

If someone you know is depressed or experiences suicidal thoughts and comes to you for refuge keep in mind these Do’s and Don’ts…

DO

• DO take it seriously.
• DO listen and be non-judgmental.
• DO take action and get involved. (If needed)
• DO follow up.

Don’ts

• DON’T downplay their emotions.
• DON’T swear to secrecy.
• DON’T act shocked.
• DON’T dare a person to do it.
• DON’T SAY:

“JUST GET BETTER”

A person can not simply snap out of it. Saying, “Just Get Better” can seem like a form of positive affirmation, but it can come off as very insensitive to a person who is depressed. Depression is debilitating, often times people are truly trying to get out of it, but they just can’t.

Empathy vs Sympathy

Understanding the differences between empathy and sympathy can help avoid offending or making the person who is suffering from depression feel worse than they already are.

• Requires five of the eight symptoms
• Can be remembered by the Acronym SIGECAPS

• SLEEP
• INTEREST
• GUILT
• ENERGY
• CONCENTRATION
• APPETITE
• PSYCHOMOTOR IMPAIRMENT
• SUICIDAL IDEATION

Causes

Untreated Mental Illness

• Sometimes occurs with other mental illnesses

Physiological or Genetic

• Some types of depression can run in families

Situational

• Negative life experiences can lead to a prolonged period of depression.

Warning Signs

Use the phrase:

“IS PATH WARM”

to remember the warning signs…

• Ideation
• Substance Abuse

• Purposelessness
• Anxiety
• Trapped
• Hopelessness

• Withdrawal
• Anger
• Recklessness
• Mood Change

Main Types of Depression

• Major Depression
• Persistent Depressive Disorder
• Bipolar Disorders (Manic Depression)
• Adjustment Disorders with Depressed Mood

Major Depression

Depression (major depressive disorder) is a medical illness. Depression is when sadness lingers and reaches a point where it lasts for weeks. This feeling of emptiness and/or unending sadness tends to interfere with one’s ability to handle everyday activities, such as sleeping, eating, or managing school work. Depression is common, but it is one of the most overlooked mental health issues affecting the country. Depression can occur at any age. Oftentimes, symptoms begin to show during early adolescence (teen years) or during the 20-30 age range. Depression can occur along with other mental disorders, health conditions. Depression, if left untreated, can lead to substance abuse and suicidal thoughts.

Persistent Depressive Disorder

• Persistent Depressive Disorder or Dysthymia is defined as a low mood occurring for at least two years, along with at least two other symptoms of depression. Examples of symptoms include lost interest in normal activities, hopelessness, low self-esteem, low appetite, low energy, sleep changes, and poor concentration.Treatments include medications and talk therapy.

• Less Severe and characterized by long term (2 years) symptoms

• Doesn’t disable, but keeps people from functioning well or feeling well

• Overlooked because it’s less severe and debilitating

Bipolar Disorders

• Bipolar Disorders or Manic Depression is a disorder associated with episodes of mood swings ranging from depressive lows to manic highs.
• Episodes of mood swings may occur rarely or multiple times a year.
• The most prominent signs of bipolar disorder in children and teenagers may include severe mood swings that are different from their usual mood swings.
• Symptoms can be difficult to identify in children and teens. It is hard to distinguish whether the mood swings are a result of the normal ups and downs, the results of stress or trauma, or signs of a mental health problem other than bipolar disorder.

Adjustment Disorders with Depressed Mood

• An adjustment disorder is an emotional or behavioral reaction to a stressful event or change in a person’s life.
• Stressful events or changes in the life of your child or adolescent (ie. a family move, the parents’ divorce or separation, the loss of a pet, or the birth of a sibling.)
• It is predominantly diagnosed in children and adolescents but adults can also experience Adjustment Disorders.
• This particular disorder can cause depressive symptoms and moods.

What Depression is NOT.

Depression is NOT a character flaw or sign of weakness.

Depression is NOT infectious or contagious.

You can’t just “snap out of it.”

This blog will serve to provide advocacy, information, support, and resources on the topic of teen and adolescent depression. Information is provided based on research from various reputable medical and government resources. The blog will discuss what depression is, its relevance in young adults, the various types of depression, the symptoms, causes, and ways to help cope with or help someone else cope with depression. By providing advocacy and awareness about a sensitive topic such as depression and mental health, this blog hopes to promote hope, recovery, growth and mental wellness to its readers.