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Teenagers exhibit drastic mood changes and generally overreact to issues with irrational anger and sulking moments. When teenagers are like that, they may lose sleep, time, and appetite and cease talking to family members for a short while. However, a higher level of these reactions is known as teenage depression.
So, Is teenage depression a common issue?
Depression which was more prevalent among adults represents a combination of sadness, worthlessness, and irritability that affects an individual’s capacity to function effectively. A teen can experience severe depression or mild one varying from clinical depression, bipolar depression, dysthymia, or major depressive episode.
Today, depression has extended to teenagers, leaving many parents to wonder if their teenagers exhibiting sadness and anger is related to depression.
Since the pandemic, mental health measures among teenagers, including depression and suicide rates, have been worse in the US and worldwide. According to WebMD, one out of every eight adolescents has teenage depression.
Key Transitions is concerned about teenage depression statistics US reports pointing towards an increasing rate of adolescent depression after the pandemic and wants to share how parents can be proactive and take measures to distract the teens from common the reasons for depression.
Is Teenage Depression Rate Increasing?
According to The Atlantic, American high-school students claiming to feel persistent sadness and hopelessness rose from 26 percent to 44 percent between 2009 and 2021. These are the highest rates ever witnessed among US teenagers.
The pandemic, sexual orientation, and gender have been concluded as factors driving an increase in teenage depression. When categorized by age groups, 47% of adolescents between ages 12 and 13 are depressed; 60% of teenagers aged 14 to 17 are depressed; 46% of young adults aged 18 to 21 are depressed.
Depression often leads to suicidal feelings when left unattended. The Atlantic reports also state that over 50% of male LGBTQ teens admitted feelings of suicide during the pandemic compared to 14% of male heterosexuals. Also, one out of four teenage girls reported feelings of suicide during the pandemic, a rate that doubles that of boys.
According to the WHO, suicide is a leading cause of death globally, representing the death of 1 out of 100 deaths. In 2019 alone, 700,000 thousand people died globally from suicide. Among people aged between 15 and 29, suicide is the fourth leading cause of death.
Reasons Why Teen Depression is on the Rise
Major reasons for driving depression and anxiety among teenagers after pandemic are too much negative news, social media addiction, and higher stress levels. The three major reasons for teenage depression rise are discussed here:
Social Media Use
Social media sites like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube are the most visited websites globally. While in themselves, they pose no harm to users, the mild addiction and sensitivity of the teenage group to public perceptions drive dependency and feelings of depression among teenagers.
Sociality Is Down
Social activities are generally being replaced by simulated social activities like social tagging, like, share and video gaming. The absence of physical interactions with teachers and schoolmates during the pandemic has also increased feelings of depression among teenagers.
The World Is Stressful – And There Is More News About The World’s Stressors
News media coverage in the current scenario only highlights daily crisis violence, climate change issues, and global political problems, amongst other topics. The information from these sources tends to generate feelings of sadness and anger in teenagers’ naive minds.
Other Gen Z issues Affecting Mental Health
Apart from the highlighted reasons for teenage depression, several associated issues today affect Gen Zers’ or Zoomers’ mental health. According to McKinsey, this group of individuals is one of the worst-hit by mental health issues during the pandemic. There are higher numbers of teens suffering from depression and anxiety than other age groups.
- Substance abuse: Drug and alcohol misuse negatively affects teenagers’ mental health, subsequently leading to feelings of depression. Statistics show that underage teenagers consume 11% of the alcohol sold in America. The number rises higher to 19% between the ages of 12 and 20, with over 12% involved in binge drinking.
- Social media addiction: Social media addiction has become a common issue among Gen Zers. They no longer know how to limit their use of the many social sites, including Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Social media addiction increases the risk of developing mental health issues among teenagers with excessive comparison and feelings of self-consciousness.
- Video Game Addiction: WHO recognized gaming disorder as a mental health condition in 2019, and it is a serious issue among teenagers today. The supposedly leisurely activity has since been connected to feelings of depression and social anxiety. Addiction symptoms include irritability when unable to play the game and avoidance of social interactions.
It Is Never Too Late – Teen Depression Coping Strategies
A common misconception is that teenagers are able to manage their mental health problems independently. The sad reality is that teens’ experience of depression is overwhelming and hopeless. There are ways to avoid this mental disorder and treat depression by teaching teenagers coping strategies. The NHS highlights a few of these for depressed teenagers, including talking about their feelings with someone they trust.
To avoid depression plunging teenagers into suicidal thoughts, the parents and families should support their teen son or daughter to adopt the following coping strategies.
Stay In Touch With Family And Friends
Feelings of loneliness and a state of being alone consistently are one major reason for depression. To reduce the effects of loneliness, the NHS advises that you try socializing at your pace. Reach out to trusted family members and friends and let them walk you through your struggle with depression.
Be More Active
Regardless of depression, you have a set of activities that get you relaxed and energized throughout the day. Don’t indulge yourself by staying at home; instead, engage in these activities, preferably outdoors. Since these hobbies or activities such as exercising and dancing differ among individuals, identify yours and get started.
Challenge Negative Thoughts
Depression is associated with helplessness and is expected to generate negative thoughts in your mind. Instead of accepting these thoughts, challenge them. In such cases, try to think positively and examine the negative ideas in your mind objectively because they are usually illusions.
Other coping strategies include healthy eating, desisting from alcohol, and creating routines that work for you. You can also talk to counselors and therapists for help.
How is teen depression treated?
Depression requires further treatment apart from coping strategies to be entirely under control. You shouldn’t wait endlessly for your teenagers to outgrow the symptoms of depression they have identified. You should seek to understand teen depression through personal research and discussions with their teenagers. If they have noticed any depression symptoms in their teenagers, they should lovingly talk to them. Addressing such concerns helps the teenager know that you see them, making them more open to you.
Here are ways to support your teenager if they are dealing with depression:
- Encourage the teenager to tell you exactly what they are going through and listen carefully.
- Avoid interrupting them in the middle of sentences and let them pour out their mind to you.
- Reach an agreement with the teenager to reduce their screen time.
- Encourage them to be active through exercising and going out.
Summary
An exhibition of mood switches may be normal teenage behavior. However, if you have noticed a consistent pattern of poor behaviors that raise concerns, you should talk to your teenager and seek professional help. Taking guided actions to address your teenager’s perceived depression can help them get out of the situation early. Help your teenager with the best teen depression treatment available.