Warning signs of Depression in Adolescents are similar to those of adults even though their presentation might be different. The key is to be aware of warning signs, especially if they seem prolonged. If the signs listed below last longer than 2 weeks, it would be a good idea to take your teen to your family doctor.
1) Pervasive sadness that can present as frequent bouts of tearfulness or crying
Sometimes,teen depression presents as an unusual and obsessive preoccupation with death and nihilism: wearing black clothes, adopting Gothic mannerism, listening to nihilistic music, writing about death, talking about death.
2) A Change in Sleeping Patterns
This is often manifested as insomnia. It is not uncommon for teens in depression to stay up all night watching TV or listening to music.Often they miss school and sleep all day. The cycle is repeated.
3) A Change in Eating Patterns
This is often manifested as anorexia(not wanting to eat, excessive worry about getting fat) or overeating with bulimia. Any unusual or obsessive preoccupation with body image is a cause for concern.
4) Substance or Alcohol Abuse
Excessive experimentation with drugs and alcohol is often used by depressed teens to mask their unhappiness and pain.
5) Withdrawal from Family/Hanging Out with a "Bad" or "Risky " Crowd
A Change in friends can also be a sign of depression, especially when the teen begins seeking the company of delinquent, hostile or risky groups.
6) Frequent complaints of physical aches in the body, headaches or stomachaches.
7) Poor academic performance and behavior problems in school.
8) Obsessive thoughts and talk of death and suicide
9) Change in Energy Patterns
The teen exhibits either decreased energy and enthusiasm or increased, frenzied hyperactivity ( which can be due to substance abuse).
More at http://www.help-your-child-with-anger.com/depression-in-adolescents.html
Showing posts with label teen suicide. Show all posts
Showing posts with label teen suicide. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Saturday, November 27, 2010
What You May Not Know About Teen Suicide
1. Be on the lookout for teens who drink when depressed. According to a recent University of Connecticut study,adolescents who drink while depressed have a 68% increase in risk of attempting suicide if they have previously entertained suicidal thoughts.
Even with teens who have not entertained the idea of suicide, drinking while depressed is associated with a three-fold increase in risk.
2. Gender makes a difference in adolescents suicides. Young girls are more likely to make the attempt;however, more boys succeed in the attempts.
The reason is that the male sex has a tendency to use guns which are far more definitive than overdosing with sleeping pills.
3. Girls involved in violent sexual relationships are 8-9 times more likely to attempt suicide than girls who are not.These girls are also more likely to engage in substance abuse, binge-drinking, cocaine use, heavy smoking and unhealthy weight control behaviors.
Symptoms like these call out for intervention. All of us need to be more vigilant teen behavior and providing opportunities for education and intervention.
4. While suicide among young children are rare, there has been an escalation in the suicide rate among children aged 10-14 years. Every year at least 300 young people aged 10-19 years kill themselves.
One reason stated by Carol Goar in The Toronto Star is the lack of mental health resources for children in Canada. For example, children wait one third longer than adults for psychiatric care in Ontario.
Canada produces just 10 child psychiatrists a year.The problem of child depression requires both manpower and resources.
5.Gay and lesbian adolescents are 14 times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers. Among First Nation and Inuit communities, teen suicide rates are 5-8 times higher than the general population.
7. School- based programs with suicide awareness as part of the curriculum might not be as effective as screening processes that can detect teens at risk.
Evidence suggests that teens are less likely to seek help or recommend a friend to do so when exposed to curriculum based programs. There is also the possibility that school based awareness programs may provoke teens into imitating suicide.
However, programs that appear to be effective are those that proactively screen the student body for teens at risk.
If you are unsure whether your teen is suicidal, you may find this Teen Suicide Risk Calculator helpful.It can provide you with an assessment tool to evaluate your teen's likelihood of attempting suicide.
Even with teens who have not entertained the idea of suicide, drinking while depressed is associated with a three-fold increase in risk.
2. Gender makes a difference in adolescents suicides. Young girls are more likely to make the attempt;however, more boys succeed in the attempts.
The reason is that the male sex has a tendency to use guns which are far more definitive than overdosing with sleeping pills.
3. Girls involved in violent sexual relationships are 8-9 times more likely to attempt suicide than girls who are not.These girls are also more likely to engage in substance abuse, binge-drinking, cocaine use, heavy smoking and unhealthy weight control behaviors.
Symptoms like these call out for intervention. All of us need to be more vigilant teen behavior and providing opportunities for education and intervention.
4. While suicide among young children are rare, there has been an escalation in the suicide rate among children aged 10-14 years. Every year at least 300 young people aged 10-19 years kill themselves.
One reason stated by Carol Goar in The Toronto Star is the lack of mental health resources for children in Canada. For example, children wait one third longer than adults for psychiatric care in Ontario.
Canada produces just 10 child psychiatrists a year.The problem of child depression requires both manpower and resources.
5.Gay and lesbian adolescents are 14 times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers. Among First Nation and Inuit communities, teen suicide rates are 5-8 times higher than the general population.
7. School- based programs with suicide awareness as part of the curriculum might not be as effective as screening processes that can detect teens at risk.
Evidence suggests that teens are less likely to seek help or recommend a friend to do so when exposed to curriculum based programs. There is also the possibility that school based awareness programs may provoke teens into imitating suicide.
However, programs that appear to be effective are those that proactively screen the student body for teens at risk.
If you are unsure whether your teen is suicidal, you may find this Teen Suicide Risk Calculator helpful.It can provide you with an assessment tool to evaluate your teen's likelihood of attempting suicide.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Can Children Be Depressed?
It wasn't until 20 years ago that people considered depression in children as a serious issue. The prevailing opinion then was that children were too young to understand or feel self-negating emotions.
A new Canadian study shows that 15 percent of preschoolers have atypically high levels of depression and anxiety. The study also finds that these children are more likely to have mothers with a history of depression.
Almost 1800 children and their mothers took part in this 5 year investigation which showed that a baby's difficult temperament at 5 months was the most important indicator of anxiety and depression in children followed by lifetime maternal depression as the next most important indicator.
Preschoolers with depression are also likely to be depressed in childhood. 2.5% of children and 8.3 % of adolescents in the United States suffer from Depression.
While boys under the age of 10 seem to experience depression more often, girls seem to have a greater incidence of depression by age 16.
The suicide rate for adolescents has increased more than 200% over the past decade.
In Canada, 1 in 20 children and adolescents go through Depression before the age of 19.
Despite these given statistics, research suggests that depression is treatable, especially if it is diagnosed early.
A new Canadian study shows that 15 percent of preschoolers have atypically high levels of depression and anxiety. The study also finds that these children are more likely to have mothers with a history of depression.
Almost 1800 children and their mothers took part in this 5 year investigation which showed that a baby's difficult temperament at 5 months was the most important indicator of anxiety and depression in children followed by lifetime maternal depression as the next most important indicator.
Preschoolers with depression are also likely to be depressed in childhood. 2.5% of children and 8.3 % of adolescents in the United States suffer from Depression.
While boys under the age of 10 seem to experience depression more often, girls seem to have a greater incidence of depression by age 16.
The suicide rate for adolescents has increased more than 200% over the past decade.
In Canada, 1 in 20 children and adolescents go through Depression before the age of 19.
Despite these given statistics, research suggests that depression is treatable, especially if it is diagnosed early.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Cyberbullying: The New Online Threat
Cyberbullying is fast becoming a serious threat to young people because it can kill. Cases of adolescents committing suicide because of nameless, faceless online threats are becoming a growing concern. A case in point is that involving a male teenager who was bullied because of his sexual orientation. Another case involved a thirteen year old girl whose suicide was the result of a malicious hoax perpetrated by the mother of the victim's friend. According to the National Crime Prevention Center, cases of cyberbullying are on the rise.
What Do Statistics Tell Us about Cyberbullying?
Over 40% of all teenagers with internet access have reported being bullied online. However, only 10% of children bullied reported the incident to their parents. Only 18% of the cases were reported to a local or national law enforcement agency.
While only 9% of children ages 10-17 experienced online threats in 2000, the percentage has risen to 50% by 2008. One possible reason is the increase in use of the internet as a vehicle for socializing and the increased technical dexterity of teenagers who do use the internet.
The most common virtual sites for cyberbullying are chat rooms, social networking sites and instant messaging systems.These are all online communication sites popular with the younger set today. Cell phones and digital cameras are also becoming a growing concern. An increasing number of teenagers are worried that photos may be taken of them without their consent with the use of cell-phone cameras.
What Can Be Done About Cyberbullying?
The best solution is education. The internet is fast becoming a powerful tool for socializing and dissemination of information. Children must be taught the basics of personal privacy, respect for others and consequences of actions. Very often, children are deceived by the sense of anonymity communication over the internet seems to suggest. After all, they can sign in with a different name or use avatars without revealing their own identities. They think that just because their identities are not obvious to the victim, the crime has been "erased."
Parents need to be more vigilant about their children's use of the internet. How often do we really monitor what our teenager is doing at the computer? Adult supervision, as well as intervention, not only helps to educate our young people about a medium that is becoming more and more explosive, it encourages them discern the difference between using a tool for social benefit and using a tool for social aggression.
Like the car and alcohol, the internet is something we, as parents, must own responsibility for in terms of safe use and access by our children.
What Do Statistics Tell Us about Cyberbullying?
Over 40% of all teenagers with internet access have reported being bullied online. However, only 10% of children bullied reported the incident to their parents. Only 18% of the cases were reported to a local or national law enforcement agency.
While only 9% of children ages 10-17 experienced online threats in 2000, the percentage has risen to 50% by 2008. One possible reason is the increase in use of the internet as a vehicle for socializing and the increased technical dexterity of teenagers who do use the internet.
The most common virtual sites for cyberbullying are chat rooms, social networking sites and instant messaging systems.These are all online communication sites popular with the younger set today. Cell phones and digital cameras are also becoming a growing concern. An increasing number of teenagers are worried that photos may be taken of them without their consent with the use of cell-phone cameras.
What Can Be Done About Cyberbullying?
The best solution is education. The internet is fast becoming a powerful tool for socializing and dissemination of information. Children must be taught the basics of personal privacy, respect for others and consequences of actions. Very often, children are deceived by the sense of anonymity communication over the internet seems to suggest. After all, they can sign in with a different name or use avatars without revealing their own identities. They think that just because their identities are not obvious to the victim, the crime has been "erased."
Parents need to be more vigilant about their children's use of the internet. How often do we really monitor what our teenager is doing at the computer? Adult supervision, as well as intervention, not only helps to educate our young people about a medium that is becoming more and more explosive, it encourages them discern the difference between using a tool for social benefit and using a tool for social aggression.
Like the car and alcohol, the internet is something we, as parents, must own responsibility for in terms of safe use and access by our children.
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