PHILADELPHIA,
Summertime means fun in the sun and vacations for families, which
also makes it a good time to get in touch with children and teens.
Although most people don't associate depression with adolescents,
depression among teen-agers is a major public health problem,
according to Dr. Ellen Sholevar, an adolescent psychiatrist at
Temple University School of Medicine and Temple University Children's
Medical Center. "Depression can be prevented and treated, but
it is imperative that parents know the warning signs," said Sholevar.
Statistics
confirm that suicide caused by depression is the third leading
cause of death in teens in the nation. Fifty-seven percent of
teens who commit suicide were depressed. One in four children
think about suicide and by high school age, one in 10 actually
attempt suicide.
According
to Sholevar, your teen may be in trouble if he or she: -- Doesn't
enjoy things that most teens enjoy -- Doesn't want to interact
with peers or participate in certain activities -- Often wears
a sad expression -- Doesn't enjoy school -- Doesn't do as well
in school as they ought to given their abilities -- Eats and sleeps
less -- Has had dramatic weight loss -- Eats more and sleeps more
Major red flags that a parent should watch for include drug and
alcohol usage, which could be an indication of depression or other
problems, a "my life stinks" attitude, or the expressed idea of
committing suicide. In these situations, it is important to talk
to the teen-ager and listen to how he feels. "Parents should seek
help from a professional adolescent counselor or psychiatrist
for assessment and treatment. The job of the psychiatrist is to
determine the type of depression the adolescent is suffering from.
Most studies show that the majority of adolescents can be helped,"
said Sholevar.
Why do adolescents become so depressed that they choose death
over life? The answers are not simple.
"People
usually inherit a predisposition for depression. The specific
gene that is responsible for depression runs in families. Most
likely, if a mother suffers from a certain type of depression,
her child is at a higher risk for depression."
There
are two types of depression -- dysthymic disorder and major depressive
disorder. "Dysthymic disorder is a milder depression which doesn't
necessarily lead to suicide, but can predispose the adolescent
to major depressive disorder. Major depressive disorder, or bipolar
depression, is a much more serious illness and is a strongly genetically
related condition," explained Sholevar.
"There
are also a myriad of socio-economic factors that lead to depression.
Teen-agers experience life stressors such as domestic violence,
physical or sexual abuse and family changes. For various reasons,
most parents are not aware of tell-tale signs and, therefore,
the depression remains undetected and untreated for some time,
usually until a major negative event occurs," stated Sholevar.
According
to Sholevar, the constant interaction between the factors of genetic
endowment, temperament, family, neighborhood and culture directly
impact the way in which a teen-ager views his world and his place
in it. "The hallmark of depression is hopelessness that the victim
feels about his situation," she said. SOURCE Temple University
Health System
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