“1 in 5 teens suffer from clinical depression”
Bridgewater, N.J. (August 21, 2013) – According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), more than 6% of children suffer from depression and 4.9% of them have major depression?
The main factors that lead to depression in adolescents and teens are the struggles to fit in with society norms and family issues.
It is difficult to recognize a teen that is suffering from depression because during the adolescent and teen years their moods tend to fluctuate anyway. It is important that one pays close attention to the signs so that clinical depression is not mistaken for mood swings. If the following symptoms last longer than two weeks then seek immediate attention:
Poor performance in school
Withdrawal from friends and activities
Sadness and hopelessness
Lack of enthusiasm, energy or motivation
Anger and rage
Overreaction to criticism
Feelings of being unable to keep up with society norms
Poor self-esteem
Guilt
Lack of concentration
Forgetfulness
Restlessness and agitation
Loss or gain appetite
Insomnia or increased sleeping
Substance abuse
Problems with authority
Suicidal thoughts
Self-harm
The following are useful tips that can essential help prevent and/or reduce depression in adolescents and teens:
Maintaining healthy friendships- having a healthy relationship with your peers is an essential key to happiness because it provides a positive social outlet.
Participate in extracurricular activities- studies prove that children who are actively involved in extracurricular activities are more likely to stay out of trouble and remain stable.
Join a program that caters to young people- special programs that are geared to the needs of adolescents will give the person a sense of comfort.
GenPsych, PC, provider of top quality outpatient psychiatric and substance abuse services, stresses the importance of a healthy lifestyle. GenPsych offers a Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Program for adolescents isa structured therapeutic treatment that emphasizes balance between acceptance and change. DBT helps reduce impulsive behaviors, such as suicidality, self-harm, substance abuse, eating disordered behavior, aggression, isolation, rumination, dissociation, anxiety, depression and panic attacks.
For more information on GenPsych’s revolutionary Dialectical Behavior Therapy programs, visit: https://www.genpsych.com/programs/dialectical-behavior-therapy/
For more information on depression in adolescents and teens visit: http://www.nmha.org/index.cfm?objectid=C7DF950F-1372-4D20-C8B5BD8DFDD94CF1
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