TEENAGE DEPRESSION

Angelee L. Orticio,       Bicol University , BUCN Level IV Block C

Depression in the psychiatric sense is a morbid sadness, dejection, or melancholy. It is not self-limiting and it goes beyond grief in duration and intensity. Depression does not improve without professional help, and is dangerous for the individual because of the potential for suicide.¹ Depression affects all ages of life. Children, teens, adults and the elderly experience a depressive mood state.

Depression in adolescence may be a temporary, situational recreation or a chronic condition with all of the crippling symptoms of adult depression. The incidence of depression in adolescents is difficult to determine because of variations in its definition and measurement. Various researchers estimate that 5%-7% of high school students experience severe depression, and 21%-27% experience moderate depression. ² Untreated depression leads to problems at school, substance abuse, problems with low self esteem, eating disorders, internet addiction, promiscuous behavior, self injury, over exercising, reckless behavior, violence and suicide. ³ Adolescent depression has not been taken as seriously as it should be. Nevertheless, the alarming statistics on adolescent’s suicide show that depression can be a grave, life threatening condition that merits careful consideration

The U.S. National Institute of Mental Health stated that untreated depression is the number one cause of suicide, the 3rd leading cause of death among their teenagers.⁴ In Australia, researchers put forward that 28% of their teens suffer from depression, the leading cause of both suicide and substance abuse in their country.⁵ These statistics prove that teenage depression troubles other countries. However, our situation in the Philippines varies. We rarely hear of suicide among our teens except from few forecasted news in television or radio. Because of its rare occurrence, the Philippine DOH (Department of Health), Region 5 and even the Philippine DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development), Region 5 does not have an available data of suicide rate among adolescents / adults in the Bicol Region and of the Country. To understand the real nature and characteristic of depression among Filipino youths, the researcher, conducted a deeper study of its occurrence, involving the participation of 223 high school students aging from 14 – 17 yrs, from an institution in Region 5, Philippines. The school is well known for its good academic quality brought about by its stringent screening procedures. This group of adolescents is exposed to academic stress, demands, and pressure aside from the usual etiologic factors that triggers depression in common teens. The respondents were given a questionnaire-checklist designed to gather the needed data on the following issues:

1.What are the causes of teenage depression?
2.What are the manifestations of depression that the respondents experience?
3.What are the effects of depression in teen’s life in terms of:
    a.Emotional aspect
    b.Cognitive aspect
    c.Spiritual/ Religious aspect
    d.Physiologic aspect
    e.Behavioral aspect
4.What are the coping mechanisms that the respondents utilize to manage depression?
5.What are the proposed measures that can be done to minimize teenage
depression?

Causes of Teenage Depression

• School problems (projects, examinations, home works, competitive school environment, teachers, and classmates)
• Stress
• Other family related problems (separation from parents for those who has parents working overseas, conflict with other sibling/s, and family health related problems.)
• Argument with friend/s
Embarrassing moment
• Feelings of guilt
• Negative way of thinking towards self
• Parental conflicts
• Need for independence
• Feelings of helplessness
• Financial limitations
• Anger or hatred
• Negative expectations
• Change in body image
• Being unloved/neglected
• Weight loss/ weight gain
• Death of a close friend or relative
• Change in state of health
• Unresolved traumatic experience
• Break-up with a boyfriend or girlfriend
• Change in role status
• Negative way of thinking towards the environment
• Lack of supportive social network (friends)
• Separation of parents
• Being single / boyfriend / suitor/s
• Physically abused

Manifestations of Teenage Depression

• Sadness
• Loneliness
• Self blame
• Irritability
• Sleeping too little
• Denial of feelings
• Difficulty of making decisions
• Difficulty in concentrating
• Frustration
• Hopelessness
• Lost of interest in activities
• Confusion/ uncertainty
• Feelings of worthlessness
• Feelings of guilt
• Belief that no one cares
• Tearfulness or frequent crying
• Fatigue or lack of energy
• Anger / hostility
• Eating too much
• Desire for revenge
• Rebellious behavior
• Restlessness
• Lack of motivation
• Sudden drop in grades
• Extremely sensitive to criticism
• Sudden drop in work / school performance
• Misery
• Eating too little/ loss of appetite
• Lack of enthusiasm
• Sleeping too much
• Very high energy levels
• Bitterness
• Pessimistic outlook
• Thoughts of death and suicide
• Social isolation
• Intolerance
• Over dependency
• Beginning and increasing use of alcohol
• Over exercising
• Excessive anxiety
• Lack of spontaneity
• Cigarette smoking
• Unkempt / untidy appearance
• Violent actuations
• Agitation
• Beginning and increasing use of prohibited drugs

Teens do not need to be experiencing all of the presented symptoms to have a problem with depression. Experiencing any four is enough to warrant concern. They should ask for their parent’s / guidance counselor’s help if the problem persist for over two weeks.⁶

Depression’s effect on the emotional aspect of the adolescent

• Sadness
• Feelings of shame
• Irritability
• Low self-esteem
• Guilt
• Anger
• Feelings of unworthiness
• Helplessness
• Hatred
• Feelings of ugliness

Depression’s effect on the cognitive aspect of the adolescent

• Confusion
• Loss of interest
• Inability to concentrate at school
• Frustration with school works
• Low energy levels with activities at school work
• Loss of motivation
• Ambivalence/ doubt
• Drop of grades in some school subject
• Pessimism
• Poor attendance at school

Depression’s effect on the spiritual / religious aspect of the adolescent

• Finds comfort in talking to God through prayers
• Developed strong faith in God
• Understood that one’s course of depression is an event that God allowed to test and strengthen one’s faith
• Rely in spiritual beliefs in dealing with problem
• Doubt on one’s faith
• Feels consoled in attending Holy Mass and Novenas
• Blames God for one’s suffering
• Have strong convictions with religion
• Doubt on the sanctity of the Church, priests, and other religious connected body.
• Sudden disinterest in religion
• Dissatisfaction with one’s religion
• Becoming an atheist

Depression’s effect on the physiologic aspect of the adolescent

• Unexplained headaches
• Sleep disturbance
• Weight loss
• Stomachache
• Fatigue
• Decreased appetite
• Dizziness
• Increased appetite
• Insomnia
• Weight gain
• Binge eating (consuming a large amount of food)
• Anorexia
• Vomiting
• Over exercising
• Constipation
• Purging (means compensatory behaviors designed to eliminate food by means of self induced vomiting)
• Bulimia

Depression’s effect on the behavioral aspect of the adolescent

• Irritability
• Derives a sense of worth and satisfaction by sharing experiences and views with others
• Seeks for other’s attention
• Internet addiction
• Few relationship with others
• Aggressiveness
• Alcoholism
• Attempts of suicide
• Social withdrawal
• Violence
• Self injury
• Unsatisfying relationships
• Agitation
• Cigarette smoking
• Reckless driving
• Unsafe sex
• Substance abuse

Coping mechanisms that can be utilized to manage depression

• Listening to music
• Doing anything that makes you laugh
• Enough rest
• Get physical – play sport, jog, dance, doing anything that stops you from
• being gloomy
• Focus more on education
• Religious counseling
• Eat healthily
• Peer counseling
• Remembering happy, past experiences
• Keeping as occupied as you can with things that interests you
• Visiting or maintaining contacts with friends or relatives
• Having pets
• Not holding your feelings in: cry and get angry if you need to
• Avoid elicited drugs
• Making the living environment as pleasant and as comfortable as possible
• Learning new skills such as gardening, painting, and other hobbies
• Social interaction to combat sadness and loneliness
• Volunteering to help others
• Ask for help
• Joining a religious or spiritual community
• Paying attention to one’s appearance to make one’s self feel good
• Look after one’s self physically
• Consult a psychiatrist
• Taking anti depressant medication as prescribed

Measures to minimize teenage depression

• Get enough sleep
• Associate with friends who has positive goals, such as gong to college, and/or involved in positive activities
• Develop good social support system with family members, teachers, and/or friends
• Learn healthy ways to deal with choices, stress, and life changes
• Eat a healthy well balanced diet
• Get exercise, which helps manage stress and fight depression
• Avoid drugs and alcohol
• Seek counseling
• Avoiding anything that you know may trigger depression for you, including music, activities, people or styles of dressing and grooming that bring on feelings of depression
• Allow time for normal grieving after loss
• Keeping a journal of experiences and events in your life
• Get cognitive-behavioral therapy, which will help in recognizing negative thought patterns and to change those patterns
• Take any medication directly prescribed by the physician, consult with a doctor before stopping.

NOTES

1 Taylor Cecilia. Essentials of Psychiatric Nursing. Mosby Company, USA, 1990

2 Burgess, Ann W. Psychiatric Nursing, Promoting Mental Health. A Simon & Schutsner Company, Connecticut 1997 p.282

3 Smith M. M.A., Bartson S., Jaffe J., Dumke L. and Seagal J. Teen Depression: br />A Guide for Parents and Teachers. November 2007.
http://www.helpsuicide.org/mental/depressin_teen.htm#risk

4 Teenagers and Depression. www.about-teen-depression.com

5 Morris M. and Grant R. Study to Examine Omega – 3 Defficiency, teenage depression link. Australian Research Institute

6 The Effects of Depression on Teenagers. July 25, 2006.
http://www.echeat.com/essay.php?t=30629

I. Personal Information

Name: Angelee Latuga Orticio
Address: 690 University Homes Washington Drive Legazpi City
Birth Place: Legazpi City
Age: 19 y/o
Religion: Roman Catholic
Nationality: Filipino
Civil Status: Single

Parents:
Ramon P. Orticio
Jocelyn L. Orticio

II. Educational Attainment

Primary: Bicol University College of Education Laboratory School
Daraga Albay 1995-2001
Secondary: Divine Word College of Legazpi, High School Department 2001-2003
Bicol University College of Education Integrated Laboratory School
High School Department 2003-2005
Tertiary: Bicol University College of Nursing, Legazpi City 2005 – 2009

III. Seminars Attended

“Chest tube Management” Lung Center of the Philippines
Quezon Avenue, Quezon City, May 9, 2008

“Disaster and Emergency Management” Bicol University college of Nursing, July 31, 2008

Contraception Outside Marriage Among Students” Bicol University graduate School, September 26, 2007

“Epilepsy” Esteves Memorial Hospital, Legazpi City, July 31, 2007

“Integrated Management of Childhood Illness” Bicol University College of Science, July 3-4, 2007 “Special and Therapeutic Diet” Bicol University College of Nursing Legazpi City September 26, 2006

“New Born Screening” Bicol University College of Nursing, 2nd Semester of S.Y. 06-07

“Successful Breast Feeding” Bicol University College of Nursing Legazpi City 2nd Semester, S. Y. 05-06

----- o-O-o -----

Related Articles

Copyright 2008:Dagospo Campus Corner