What is Psychology?

Answers to Your Psychology Questions

  • Disorders & Syndromes
  • Mental Health
  • Definitions
  • Love & Relationship
  • Experimental Psychology
  • Child Psychology

Depression amongst Teenagers: Facts and Statistics

The stereotype of sulky, moody, irritable, sullen teens is something all parents are familiar with, which can make depression among teenagers difficult to spot, so how can you tell if your teenage son or daughter is suffering from depression and not just being a typical teenager?

Depression among teenagers is on the increase and the statistics make scary reading: research has shown that one in five adolescents have some kind of emotional, behavioural, or mental problem, and one in eight are suffering from depression. But unlike adults, who are much more likely to seek help for their depression, only 30% of teenagers receive any kind of treatment.

Why is depression among teenagers so high?

Teenagers are under immense pressure. They have to deal with the trauma of adolescence and the physical changes their bodies are going through, plus the constant barrage of unachievable images of perfection portrayed by the media. Thirty years ago, depression amongst teens was virtually unheard of, but in today’s materialistic society, teenagers are made to feel inferior every time they open a magazine or watch the latest reality TV show.

The biggest problem with depression in teenagers is that parents are often completely unaware that their child is suffering from the illness because their symptoms do not always point to depression. Sulking, sullenness, aggression and antisocial behaviour are all considered to be a normal part of teenage life, but although these symptoms are very common in teens, they can also be caused by depression. Teenagers are also less likely to cut off contact with their friends when they are depressed, something that adults tend to do.

Teenage depression and suicide

Suicide is the third highest cause of premature death in teenagers and young adults aged between 15 and 24, and this rate has tripled in the last forty years. Such figures indicate that not only are teenagers becoming more vulnerable to depression, but they are increasingly likely to respond to the illness by committing suicide.

What are the symptoms of depression in teenagers?

All teenagers suffer from mood swings and periods of bad behaviour and irritability, but when depression is the underlying cause, other symptoms will normally be evident. Very often physical symptoms can indicate that there is something more going on beneath the surface, so if a teenager complains of headaches, a lack of energy, and sleep problems for more than a couple of weeks, they could be suffering from depression. Other warning signs to look out for include a drop in performance at school, changes in weight or eating habits, and a lack of interest in normal activities.

Who is most at risk?

Statistics show that teenage girls are more at risk than teenage boys. Teenage depression can be triggered by many things, but what might seem like a trivial concern to a parent is very often a major trauma to a teenager: for example, online bullying is commonly linked to cases of teen suicides, and parents are often oblivious until it is too late. Teenagers affected by bereavement, child abuse, and chronic illness are also vulnerable to depression, but it is not the severity of the problem, it is more the teens perception of their problem that is the real issue.

Related Articles:

  1. Vitamins for Depression: Do the Right Vitamins Improve Your Depression? It would be nice to think that a simple daily vitamin pill could cure depression, but if your symptoms of depression are being caused by a vitamin deficiency, it is possible that a vitamin supplement could be the answer to your mood problems. So what vitamin deficiencies can lead to...
  2. How to Help Someone with Depression and Suicidal Thoughts? When someone you care about is suffering from depression, you probably want to find out more about how to help someone with depression, but how do you go about helping a depressed person, particularly if they are pushing you away and refusing to accept that they need help? How to...
  3. What is the Difference Between Anxiety vs Depression? Given a choice between anxiety vs depression, you would probably prefer not to have either of these two disorders, but what is the difference between anxiety vs depression, and what are the symptoms of each condition? Most people probably experience feelings of anxiety and depression at some point in their...
  4. Interesting Facts about Schizophrenia Schizophrenia is a serious mental health disorder. Sufferers of schizophrenia find it difficult to distinguish between what is real and unreal. They typically experience hallucinations, delusions and disordered thinking, and usually withdraw from the world around them as the illness takes hold. Off all the serious mental health disorders, schizophrenia...
  5. Post Natal Depression: Signs and Symptoms Post natal depression (PND) is a type of depression experienced by women who have recently given birth. Unlike the “baby blues”, which is very common in the first few days following childbirth, the symptoms of post natal depression typically develop around four to six weeks after the baby is born....

Filed Under: Disorders & Syndromes

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search

Topics

  • Disorders & Syndromes
  • Drugs & Addiction
  • Mental Health
    • Fear & Anxiety
  • Neuroscience
    • Attention & Concentration
    • Memory
    • Neuroscience
  • Psychology
    • Animals
    • Behavior
    • Child Psychology
    • Definitions
    • Education
    • Experimental Psychology
    • Famous Psychologists
    • Gender Difference
    • Language & Communication
    • Love & Relationship
    • Nutrition
    • Popular Psychology
  • Therapy

Recent Posts

What is Alzheimer’s Disease?

Why Do People Cut Themselves?

Can You Learn While You Sleep?

Is Herpes Linked to Dementia?

Stay updated on Facebook Follow WhatisPsychology on Twitter

Affiliate Links – Advertising Disclosure

If you purchase a product or service linked from this site, we may receive an "affiliate commission". We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising" and also in accordance to amazon associates programme operating agreement.

Amazon
The owner of this website is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.

Copyright © · What is Psychology? · Privacy Policy · About · Archives · Contact us