More than 7 percent of people age 12 or older in the United States suffer from depression, according to a National Health Center for Health Statistics report titled, ìDepression in the U.S. Household Population, 2009 ñ- 2012î released in December 2014 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.And itís a harrowing statistic.The study by Laura H. Pratt, Ph.D., and Debra J. Brody, M.P.H. found that between 2009 and 2012, 7.6 percent of Americans surveyed age 12 or older suffer from depression. That includes 5.7 percent of teens aged 12 to 17 who suffered from moderate or severe depressive symptoms in the last two weeks. Four percent of teenage boys exhibited symptoms of depression, compared to 7.4 percent of girls.The CDC on its website defined depression as a ìserious medical illness and important public health issueî characterized by ìpersistent sadness and sometimes irritability.î It was recognized as ìone of the leading causes of disease or injury worldwide for both men and women.îBut teens especially can have difficulty navigating their depression, requiring adult guidance to understand both the emotional and physical changes they are experiencing during this time in their life, according to the Mental Health America website.ìWhen teensí moods disrupt their ability to function on a day-to-day basis, it may indicate a serious emotional or mental disorder that needs attention ó adolescent depression. Parents or caregivers must take action,î states an article posted to the Mental Health America website titled ìDepression in Teens.îSigns of depressionWhile there are several types of depression, Major Depressive Disorder is characterized by several diagnostic criteria as identified by the American Psychiatric Association.According to the CDC, these symptoms include, but are not limited to, persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness and depressed mood; loss of interest or pleasure in activities that used to be enjoyable; change in weight or appetite (either an increase or decrease); insomnia or difficulty sleeping; feelings of fatigue or lack of energy; and thoughts of death or suicide.Lori Jarvis-Steinwert, executive director at NAMI (the National Alliance on Mental Illness) Colorado Springs affiliate, said that sudden abnormal changes in a teenagerís behavior can be an indicator of depression.ìIt can be hard to know if this is normal teenage behavior or if theyíre exhibiting signs of depression, but anytime anyone Ö stops showing interest in things they once loved, thatís a large sign,î Jarvis-Steinwert said. ìSigns include disengagement or detachment from others in their life; if they isolate themselves; if you notice a change in sleeping patterns; if theyíre crying uncontrollably; or if theyíre acting in any way that is especially very unusual. If this is a chronic condition, thereís probably an indication that there is some sort of challenge for them.îCauses of depressionIssues at school, in their home life, their social life or even on social media can all be causes of depression in teens, Jarvis-Steinwert said.ìOne thing that can happen in teens is, thereís this sense because of social media that it looks like everyone elseís life is better,î she said. ìTeens can compare their lives to the perception of other peopleís lives that they see on the Internet, and they get this idea that their lives are out of balance.îSexual identity is another large cause of depression in young people.Jarvis-Steinwert said, ìKids, especially those who are really involved in a faith-based community of people, can struggle terribly with their sexual identity,î Jarvis-Steinwert said. ìThey may feel very isolated and may not feel like they have anyone to talk to.îEffects of depression in teens and young peopleThere are many effects that depression, particularly long-term, can have on those who suffer from the illness.The Depression Treatment Helpline of Colorado on its website identifies several effects of clinical depression, including heart disease, sleep and mood disorders, substance abuse, a sense of worthlessness and thoughts of suicide or death.Jarvis-Steinwert said encouraging teens to talk about issues in their lives can make all the difference.ìMany young people especially can be afraid to talk about their depression because they minimize their issues or think theyíre trivial,î she said. ìThe bottom line is, if itís important to you, itís OK to call (for help). Itís better to address an issue before it becomes a crisis.îHow and when to seek assistanceSeveral organizations and resources exist for teens and others suffering with depression. Locally, NAMIís Colorado Springs affiliate has implemented a program called ìEnding the Silence.î A classroom presentation targeted to middle- and high school students, it offers a general introduction to mental illness.Donna Grojean, a Falcon, Colorado, resident, coordinates outreach and scheduling for the program.The two-part program begins with a slideshow describing the signs and conditions of various mental illnesses, and finishes with a presentation by a young adult under 30 years old who lives with and manages mental illness.ìThe presenters talk to the kids about how theyíve recovered, how to stay in recovery and their coping mechanisms,î Grojean said.ìThereís quite a stigma around mental illness, and I think this helps erase that. These kids are seeing someone living with a mental illness, and itís not the type of person who is normally portrayed in the media as having a mental illness.îNationwide, the Ending the Silence campaign has reached more than 230,000 young people, Grojean said. Locally, the program has reached 292 students in the last year.Teens are also encouraged to talk to professional counselors, said Kirk Woundy, who manages NAMIís ìBelow the Surfaceî campaign to connect teens and younger people to the Colorado Crisis Services support line through texting.ìFor people who are a little older, the idea of talking about such a personal or intimate topic like depression may seem a little counter-intuitive,î Woundy said. ìBut thatís quite different for teens. Our focus group of young people told us that they do everything by text. It doesnít seem strange to (teens) at all. Thatís how they communicate.îWhen teens text the hotline, they are connected to masters-level clinicians specially trained to communicate via text, Woundy said.The Colorado Crisis Services hotline is for everyone, he said.ìYou do not need to be in a crisis to take advantage of this resource,î Woundy said. ìThis is meant to give people who need to talk an outlet before they get to a crisis situation. They will not turn anyone away.îJarvis-Steinwert encouraged parents to seek help for their children if they believe their kids may be suffering from depression, especially in a situation where depression and other mental illnesses run in the family.ìParents shouldnít minimize what they think could be serious symptoms,î she said. ìTrust your gut. You know your child better than anyone else. Mental illnesses are genetically based biological imbalances. … If there is a genetic history of depression … that is all the more reason to pay attention and take your childís symptoms seriously.îThe National Institute of Mental Health encourages teens living with depression to ask for help early on. Teens are encouraged to talk to a parent or guardian; talk to a counselor; talk to a doctor; call a helpline; or contact 911 in times of crisis or when experiencing urges to self-harm.The Colorado Crisis Services support line is available 24/7 statewide for those who need to talk. Call 1-844-493-8255, text ìTALKî to 38255 or visit http://coloradocrisisservices.org.Interested teens may also participate in the Teen Depression Study, a research study which aims to understand the causes of depression in teenagers. For more information or to register, visit http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/teen-depression and click on the Teen Depression Study link.
Teen depression in the U.S.
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