Charger Features

Today’s teens showing signs of depression, stress

Elena Vasquez, Charger Staff

Depression. When you think of depression, what comes to mind? Perhaps the “blue” feeling, or being “down in the dumps.”

This matter may be quite more serious than to be expected. Adolescence is always an unsettling time, with many physical, emotional, psychological, and social challenges.
Often young adults feel empty, lonely, or even sad.

There is also the danger of a young person wanting to do harm to themselves.
This issue is not only a concern to young teens ,but also to older people as well. This is an everyday feeling. Not knowing why they feel like this is hard to understand. Many experts seem to think that its all in ones head. With help, these people can and will overcome depression.

The National Institute of Mental Health has estimated that up to 8% of American teenagers will suffer from a major depression.

Teenage girls are twice as susceptible as boys. In 1999, a survey stated that 20% of high school students have seriously considered committing suicide. Every year eleven out of every 100,000 teens have taken their own lives.

Depression is very common emotional problem during adolescence, the single greatestrisk factor for teen suicide.

Dr. Peter Jensen, a child psychiatrist and director of the Center for Advancement of Children’s Mental Health at Columbia University in New York, says, “Depression is a treatable biological disease characterized by the changes in brain chemistry.”

To experts, depression is known as a mental heath illness.

Children who are under stress, experience loss, or have attenuation learning conduct or anxiety are at higher risk for depression.

Teenagers with low self-esteem are more likely to engage in activities such as cutting themselves, taking poison or drugs, drinking alcohol, and isolating themselves from everyone else.

Can you tell the facts from the myths?

Do know someone who feels

Sadness or emptiness?

Hopelessness, guilt?

Helplessness or worthlessness?

Do they seem to feel unable to make decisions by themselves?
unable to concentrate or remember? a loss of interest in ordinary activities- such as sports or band, talking to anyone?

Do they complain about:
Having trouble falling asleep, or not getting enough sleep?
Having eating problems; by either losing or gaining weight?
Experiencing headaches, stomach aches, or back aches?
Having chronic aches or pain in joints and muscles?
Has their behavior changed suddenly so that they
Are restless or seem to be more irritable?
Want to be alone most of the time?
They’ve cut classes or dropped hobbies or activities?
Think they may be drinking heavily or taking drugs?

Have they talked about
Death?
Suicide?

If your answer to four or more is yes, please seek help for yourself or anyone you may know!

You can avoid a tragic situation, which could have or will make a difference. Many people may be depressed and not be able to tell.

Here in CHS, we have excellent counsellors who are always here to help with in needs.
So, before you of someone you may know tries to do harm to themselves, or anyone else do the right thing, instead of ignoring what you know now. This could mean saving a precious life.

Because we all do matter, and don’t let anyone tell you any different!

Till next time, take care! I would also like to give thanks to Pam Blair for her help with this issue!

Article prepared for web by Joy Wheeler