One in ten American teenagers deal with serious depression, according to a recent survey by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). If you do the math, thats 2.2 million young people, making depression a heavy hitter against todays teen population.
Not only is depression on the rise, but it may also be a spring board to many other major teen crises. SAMHSA reported that depressed teens are more likely to drink alcohol, smoke, or abuse drugs.
What does this mean for us? Youth workers and caring adults can be strong counterweights--if they know how to spot a depressed teen and help. Yet that can be a problem. Many want to help but do not know how.
Considering how common it is among todays teens, lets take a brief look at depression and try to answer some common questions: What is it? How can we identify it? And what can we do to help?
How to Identify Depression
What exactly is depression? As opposed to the low spirits that everyone experiences from time to time, depression can be far more serious.
Focus Adolescence Services defines clinical depression as an illness when the feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and despair persist and interfere with a child or adolescents ability to function.
Here are some common symptoms and what they could look like in teens:
Poor Concentration. Does a teen in your house have trouble focusing on schoolwork, or have their school grades dropped recently? Have you ever been talking with someone and noticed that they have a hard time paying attention to you, like something else is on their mind?
If you know anyone who regularly displays traits like these, it could indicate that they are dealing with depression.
Frequent Complaints of Physical Illnesses. Do you hear someone frequently complain about dizziness? Do they often say that they feel nauseated and do not want to eat because of it?
These indicators, along with stomachaches, vomiting, and menstrual problems, can be signs of depression.
A Major Change in Eating and/or Sleeping Patterns. Do you know a teen that plays video games or watches TV late into the night? All-night television watching may be one sign that he or she suffers from depression. Others signs of this include having a lot of difficulty getting up for school or taking many naps during the day. In addition, have you seen a noticeable change in a friends weight? Perhaps they have gained a lot of weight, or lost it. Drastic changes in eating patterns can be strong indicators of depression.
How to Respond
Psychology Information Online says that common causes of depression include a divorce in the family, major financial problems, the death of a loved one, a dysfunctional home life, or breaking up with a boyfriend or girlfriend.
This is significant! The average teens environment is packed with these types of situations. There is a surprisingly high teen suicide rate, a soaring rate of divorce among parents, and the ongoing dating frenzy (which many teens see as a game while their partner does not).
Knowing this, it is extremely important that parents and other concerned adults watch out for their teenagers. If you are a parent, here are some things that you can do:
- Safeguard their environment. Be aware of what kind of atmosphere they are regularly in. Is it healthy and positive or unhealthy and negative?
- Get to know their friends. Who is influencing your teen? Do your teens friends exemplify the character that you want them to emulate? Peer pressure is very influential, and young people often become just like those they spend time with.
Forbes.com reports that parents who provide a healthy environment for their kids prove to be a significant deterrent against depression.
Taking Action
Depression is typically treatable with a combination of counseling and medicine. Sadly, the majority of depressed people do not pursue treatment.
Campus Life notes that, according to the National Mental Health Association (NMHA), people resist treatment because they believe depression isn't serious, that they can treat it themselves, or that it is a personal weakness rather than a serious medical illness."
If you know someone who may be dealing with depression, encourage them to talk to a trusted adult--a parent, a youth leader, a pastor, a teacher, or a coach. If their condition persists for two weeks or longer, they may be dealing with clinical depression.
In the meantime, simply listening--not necessarily offering solutions--goes a long way, says Roberta Rand of Focus on the Family.
Its natural for people to grieve and feel a sense of loss, she says. Its not natural to be unable to express our feelings of loss out loud. A friend or caring volunteer can play the role of a compassionate listener to someone going through a painful loss.
When we do this, we honor the hurting persons feelings and help ease them through the normal stages of grief.
Still not sure what you can do? Here is a simple list of do's and don'ts:
Do: Pray fervently with and for them and share meaningful scripture verses with them.
Dont: Tell them just to pray about it or make them feel like healing would come if they would just trust God more.
Do: Show affection. Encourage them to get out and do things with you.
Dont: Let them continue in a pattern of sleep and isolation.
Do: Help them see that others need them to get well.
Dont: Make them feel guilty for the impact their depression has on others.
If you're depressed, says Campus Life, lean on God for sure. But also get the professional help you need. God is ready to help you and minister to you in your time of need, whether through formal counseling or a church service. Sometimes, it is just up to us to take advantage of all of the help that is available.
Additional resources:
Essentials to a Healthy Home
Teen Depression: Warning Signs, Information, Getting Help
Sources:
Focus Adolescence Services, Psychology Information Online, Forbes.com, MSNBC.com, ChristianityToday.com, Focus on the Familys family.org, FocusonYourChild.com