Don’t let the statistic grow; Speak up!

MEDICATION FOR THE MIND — Do antidepressants help or harm teens suffering with depression? Are other alternatives favored upon prescriptions? (God’s Health System)

Researchers reveal that depression is rising to new levels in young adults

Serious depression is trending more and more in teens within this last decade. However, these teens are not searching for help or being diagnosed. The problem arises when doctors are unsure of the most appropriate approach to treating depression, especially because it is a major cause of suicide.

Dr. Ramin Mojtabai of Johns Hopkins University showed through his research that major depression has increased in adolescents from 8.7 percent in 2005 to 11.3 percent in 2014 and has increased from 8.8 to 9.6 percent for young adults. “Each year, almost one in 11 adolescents and young adults have a major depressive episode,” Dr. Mojtabai said. Victims who were the most vulnerably disturbed with depression were young teen girls, and while this is not a surprising fact, no specific cause is known, although many can guess several reasons.

One recently common factor is the rise of social media that leads to cyber bullying, as it is more dramatic for adolescent girls. Even though depression is escalating throughout ages 12 to 25, doctors are not necessarily diagnosing more teens for depression, but instead, more teens are not pursuing any treatment.

The risks to lacking treatment is the fear that several medications do not function as effectively for teens and children. Also, many claim that antidepressant drugs may increase the risk of suicide by enhancing the symptoms of depression.

Another concern to consider is that teens may not be as communicative to their parents, guardians and doctors. Many who participated in the survey likely did not seek treatment but instead have expressed their conditions in the survey.

These facts are not necessarily shocking because young adults have been aware of depression throughout their teen years. Although, it still shows as a sensitive topic since few are willing to seek help. While teens do experience greater amounts of pressure with school, work, friends and family, seeking further assistance may strain them by interfering with education, work or relationships. Similarly, college students are no different than teens. Many may not find the time to seek any consolidation with the stress they endure. If peers can become more alert of such symptoms of depression, they can serve as support for those who silently suffer.