Today's Depressed Youth

(SHAHZAIB HUSSAIN, Karachi,Pakistan)

The topic I'm talking about today is today's depressed youth. This is a very important issue but unfortunately no one thinks about it.And nowadays, because of social media, there is no time to understand each other's problems at home.This is the reason why so many children commit suicide by failing exams due to studies or due to domestic issues.

There are multiple reasons why a teenager might become depressed. For example, teens can develop feelings of worthlessness and inadequacy over their grades. School performance, social status with peers, sexual orientation, or family life can each have a major effect on how a teen feels. Sometimes, teen depression may result from environmental stress. But whatever the cause, when being with friends or family -- or doing things that the teen usually enjoys -- don't help to improve their sadness or sense of isolation, there's a good chance that they have teen depression.

About 20 percent of all teens experience depression before they reach adulthood. Between 10 to 15 percent suffer from symptoms at any one time. Only 30 percent of depressed teens are being treated for it.

"Symptoms Of Teen Depression"

The most common symptoms of depression is sadness for no apparent reason most of the time. They may have no motivation and even become withdrawn, closing their bedroom door after school and staying in their room for hours.Kids with teen depression may sleep excessively, have a change in eating habits, and may even exhibit criminal behaviors such as DUI or shoplifting. Here are more signs of depression in adolescents even though they may or may not show all signs.

1) Preoccupation with death and dying
2) Rebellious behavior
3) Sadness, anxiety, or a feeling of hopelessness
4) Staying awake at night and sleeping during the day
5) Sudden drop in grades
6) Use of alcohol or drugs and promiscuous sexual activity
7) Withdrawal from friends
8) Feeling helpless
9) Unexplained crying
10) Extreme sensitivity to rejection or failure.

As I mentioned in the beginning, today's young generation is tired of depression and commits suicide. So i tell the warning signs of suicide.
1) Expressing hopelessness for the future
2) Giving up on one's self, talking as if no one else cares
3) Writing goodbye letters, or making a will
4) Starting to use or abuse drugs or alcohol to aid sleep or for relief from their mental anguish
5) Defiant behavior
6)Acting violently

"Diagnosis Of Depression"

There aren't any specific medical tests that can detect depression. Health care professionals determine if a teen has depression by conducting interviews and psychological tests with the teen and their family members and teachers.
The severity of the teen depression and the risk of suicide are determined based on the assessment of these interviews. Treatment recommendations are also made based on the data collected from the interviews.

How To Treat Depression"

Medications and psychotherapy are effective for most people with depression. Your primary care doctor or psychiatrist can prescribe medications to relieve symptoms. However, many people with depression also benefit from seeing a psychiatrist, psychologist or other mental health professional.A large number of research trials have shown the effectiveness of depression medications in relieving the symptoms of teen depression. One key recent study, funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, reviewed three different approaches to treating adolescents with moderate to severe depression:

One approach was using the antidepressant medication Prozac, which is approved by the FDA for use with pediatric patients ages 8-18.The second treatment was using cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, to help the teen recognize and change negative patterns of thinking that may increase symptoms of depression.The third approach was a combination of medication and CBT at the end of the 12-week study, researchers found that nearly three out of every four patients who received the combination treatment depression medication and psychotherapy significantly improved. More than 60% of the kids who took Prozac alone improved. But the study confirmed that combination treatment was nearly twice as effective in relieving depression as psychotherapy alone.

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SHAHZAIB HUSSAIN
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