Depression is a serious problem among teenagers in the USA. Based on available statistics, 8.3% of teenagers will suffer depression annually as opposed to 5.3% members of the general population (TeenHelp.com, 2016). 1 in 5 of all teens will suffer depression before they attain adulthood. The instant Term Paper is an analysis of the available research relating to the prevalence of teenage depression, its causation, whether it is considered as an actual problem, and also potential mitigation. Based on the results of the research and the analysis thereof, being a teenager in itself carries many stress factors. Depression will normally ensue if the stress resulting from these factors is not properly managed. Triggers such as the death of a loved one, failure in standardized stress can also cause stressed teenagers to develop depression. There is an overall consensus that teenage depression is a serious problem in America, which need urgent and comprehensive mitigation.
Introduction
It is normal to feel down, stressed, and anxious during teenage years. Teenage is a time of sudden physical and psychological change that is bound to be unsettling for almost all healthy people. Further, teenage coincides with some of the busiest and most stressing segments of academic life for most people thus, exacerbating the stress and anxiety (Mayo Clinic, 2017). However, if the feelings of sadness, stress or anxiety begin to become debilitating, then they are no longer normal as they may signify the advent of depression. Teenage depression is prevalent but its commonality does not make it normal, and it should not be taken for granted. How a teen reacts to depression is a determinant in whether the problem will be short-lived, will have a lasting adverse impact on the rest of the teen’s life, or even end the teen’s life, through among other things, suicide. Teenage depression is a significant problem in the modern time and the nature of intervention available is mitigating the adversities caused by the problem.
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The Problem
The problem on focus in this term paper is teenage depression. Teenage depression is a serious problem in the modern USA, based not only on its high prevalence but also its adverse ramifications. According to the American Psychology Association, depressive factors are more common among teenagers in America than among grownups (APA, 2014). Further, teenagers are not likely to take depression seriously thus, leading to the exacerbation of the problem. In most cases, teenage depression is a serious issue that can only be appropriately managed through professional intervention. Without proper intervention, teenage depression can lead to a variety of com plicati ons including mental illness, substance abuse, severe delinquency, or even suicide hence the importance of canvassing the problem (Jang, Ferguson & Rhodes, 2016).
Definition of the Problem
The problem of teenage depression has been defined in several ways and is also the subject of wrong definitions. Almost all definitions of teenage depression term it as a mental disorder in the same way that depression among adults is considered as a mental disorder (Jang, Ferguson & Rhodes, 2016). A teenage is said to be depressed when feelings of sadness, which is commonly referred to as feeling down, feelings of anxiety or feelings of stress become persistent and debilitating (Mayo Clinic, 2017). It is possible for only one of the three feelings being either sadness, anxiety or stress to be affecting the teenage. It is also possible for all three to be happening contemporaneously, only two of the three to be in existence and also for one or more to be more prominent than the others. It must, however, be noted that feeling either sad, stressed or anxious does not in itself amount to depression (APA, 2014). Indeed, these are common feelings among teenagers due to the everyday happenings in their lives. Most teenagers will be uncomfortable with the emotional and physiological changes that they undergo at that age (Pereira et al., 2015) . Further, teenage life is dominated by schoolwork including standardized examinations that can be very challenging. Anxiety, stress or sadness caused by these factors is very common and does not signify a mental problem. It is only when the anxiety, sadness or stress become chronic, persistent or debilitating that it can be considered as depression (Berg, Rostila & Hjern, 2016). Among the common symptoms of depression includes acute sadness, persistent feelings of emptiness and hopelessness, being easily annoyed, very irritable and capable of sudden fits of anger or frustration, and lack of interest or pleasure in activities that were erstwhile pleasurable (Mayo Clinic, 2017). Other teens will lose interest or get into conflict with close friend and family members, have low self-esteem accompanied by feeling worthless or inordinate guilt. Ignoring success while focusing and exaggerating personal failures as well as an extreme fear of rejection are common manifestations of teenage depression. In many cases, constant thoughts about death, suicide ideation and attempts at suicide are common. Suicide is the third largest cause of death among teenagers, and this reflects the seriousness of teen depression as a social problem (TeenHelp.com, 2016).
Underlying Causes and Factors
In regards to teenage depression, there are bearing factors that may lead to depression and factors that act as triggers. It is possible for two teenagers to go through a similar set of events with one developing depression while the other does not (Pereira et al., 2015) . Further, a teen can handle factors that can cause depression for a long time without getting depressed until a single factor or the combination of some elements cause the advent of depression. For a start and as indicated above, being a teenager in itself has many social, psychological, and physiological factors that can cause depression, mainly associated with the process of change. If a traumatic event had happened to the teen as a child, such as unnaturally losing a loved one, it could create a propensity for teenage depression (Berg, Rostila & Hjern, 2016). Further, failure to properly handle the change processes during teenage years can lead to depression. A disagreement between a teenager and a parent can create stress which, if not properly handled, can lead to depression. However, a depression trigger can cause a teenager who has erstwhile been properly handling the stresses relating to the age to suddenly develop depression. Examples of triggers include the death of a loved one, bullying, a sudden social change such as moving to a new school and failure of a standardized test or non-acceptance to a preferred institution. In most cases, it is the combination of several factors and triggers that eventually cause depression (Mayo Clinic, 2017).
Extent of the Problem
Teen depression statistics in the USA are grim. In every calendar year, 8.3% of teenagers will suffer depression as opposed to 5.3% members of the general population (TeenHelp.com, 2016). In overall, 20% means 1 in 5 of all teens will suffer depression before they attain adulthood. At any one time, 10% to 15% of all teens manifest a symptom of depression. At least 5% of all teens will suffer a major depressive episode during their teenage years. With regard to depressed teens, 70% will have more than one episodes of depression while 20 to 40% will have more than one episodes within a year (TeenHelp.com, 2016). The average depression episode during teenage runs for about eight months. The risk of depression among teenagers increases with age with the average 17-year-old having almost three times higher chances of getting depressed than a 13-year-old .
Who Defines the Problem?
Based on the definition outlined above, depression is a mental health problem which causes it to fall under the purview of psychology. Thus, it can only be defined by a qualified practitioner within that profession (Mayo Clinic, 2017). A teenager who is either suspected of being depressed or suspicious that he or she may be suffering from depression will seek the assistance of either a psychologist or a psychiatrist. A formal diagnosis will be made depending on practice rule to determine if the teenager is depressed. From a general perspective, the problem is defined by professional organizations that deal with psychology such as the American Psychology Association (APA) and American Counseling Association (ACA) or government agencies that deal with health issues such as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention and National Institutes of Health (NIH). APA and ACA are professional associations for American psychologist and counsellors respectively. The CDC and NIH are agencies of the US federal government which manage healthcare related issues. All professional and government organizations are in consensus about the existence and seriousness of teenage depression.
Who disagrees that this is a Problem?
Not considering teenage depression as a problem is a social issue that limits the proper management of teenage depression. A common misunderstanding about teenage depression is that it is all about teenagers being teenagers. Many teenagers who are undergoing depression have been thought by their peers or seniors to be pretending and castigated for it. Sometimes a parent may not accept that their child is depressed. Similarly, many people think that getting over a depression is as simple as getting over an emotional issue and thus ask the depressed teen to get over it or snap out of the depression (Mayo Clinic, 2017). Finally, according to the APA, most teenagers do not take depression seriously and believe that it does not have serious adverse consequences hence they do not seek professional help (APA, 2014).
Conflicting Social Values About Teen Depression
Some cultures consider teenagers to be small children while others consider them to be grownups who are capable of marriage and raising children. The way teenagers are treated and the kind of background they grow up in is a major bearing factor in the problem of teenage depression. Teenage depression is lowest among Native Americans, followed by African Americans while it is highest among White Americans, followed by Hispanics (TeenHelp.com, 2016). A careful analysis of these trends will lead to the hypothesis that the softer the environment at a younger age, the higher the propensity for teenage depression. It is possible that the value of overprotection of children as embraced by the modern civilized societies bears negatively on teenage depression. The hypothesis, however, may not be premised on sound scientific study but provides an avenue for further research on the subject.
Conclusion
It is clear from the research and analysis above that in spite of anxiety, stress, and sadness being a normal part of teenage years, depression should not be treated in the same manner as it is a serious mental problem that needs active intervention. The factors that cause the anxiety, stress, and sadness such as changes related to puberty and adolescence and also academic struggles are major bearing factors on teenage depression. Triggers such as a change of environment, failing an exam or death can also exacerbate the problem. The propensity for depression during teenage is higher than it is during adulthood. Depression is a mental problem that needs not only proper diagnosis by a qualified officer but also adequate mitigation to prevent adverse complications. Among these complications include suicide, mental illness, substance abuse, and delinquency. It is based on the totality of the above that teenage depression is indeed a severe sociological problem.
References
APA. (2014). American Psychological Association survey shows teen stress rivals that of adults. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2014/02/teen-stress.aspx
Berg, L., Rostila, M., & Hjern, A. (2016). Parental death during childhood and depression in young adultsa national cohort study. Journal of child psychology and psychiatry , 57 (9), 1092-1098
Jang, S. J., Ferguson, T. W., & Rhodes, J. R. (2016). Does alcohol or delinquency help adolescents feel better over time? A study on the influence of heavy drinking and violent/property offending on negative emotions. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology , 60 (6), 619-639
Mayo Clinic. (2017, August 17). Teen depression. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/teen-depression/symptoms-causes/syc-20350985
Pereira, L., Matos, A. P., Pinheiro, M. D. R., & Costa, J. J. (2015). Resilience and depressive symptomatology in adolescents: the moderator effect of psychosocial functioning. Future Academy. Retrieved from http://www.futureacademy.org.uk/files/images/upload/7ichandhpsy2016.pdf
TeenHelp .com. (2016, February 09). Teen depression statistics & facts. Retrieved from https://www.teenhelp.com/teen-depression/teen-depression-statistics/ .
