According to a new article by the Huffington Post, research has shown that depression in teens within the U.S. has been on an incline. According to research, between 2013 and 2014, one in nine teens in the United States had a major depressive episode, which is an increase from the numbers found between 2012 and 2013.
What is a Major Depressive Episode?
Psychologists define a major depressive episode as having symptoms of major depressive disorder—such as depressed mood or feelings of emotions, hopelessness or irritability—that last up to two weeks or more. Most people do not realize that depression in teens is extremely common within our society.
Research on the Increase of Depression in Teens
In the report, researchers examined data from the government’s National Surveys on Drug Use and Health, where adolescents ages 12 to 17 were asked about their drug use and mental health. Their focus was on which of these adolescents were experiencing symptoms linked to depression in teens.
Overall, the national percentage of depression in teens was 11 percent, up from 9.9 percent in previous years. It is unclear whether these findings mean that rates of depression in teens will continue to increase. The studies do reveal how common depression in teens is. The findings were in line with the age range at which you would expect symptoms of depression to first emerge.
Researchers believe that there may be three factors to the increase in depression in teens. An increased awareness of mental illness may be leading to parents being more aware of teens or more teens being aware and going to be evaluated by a doctor for depression. There is a lot more pressure on teens then there was in the past, which may lead to stress within social life, family life, and academic life that is leading to an increase of depression in teens. The way that depression is diagnosed has changed over time and has become more broad, meaning that more people will likely be diagnosed with depression.
Seeking Help
Having a major depressive episode as a teen can increase an individual’s risk of having additional issues with depression later on in life. If you feel that you are battling with depression in teens or your child may be dealing with depression, there are programs available that can help.
blueFire Wilderness can help
blueFire is a wilderness therapy program for struggling teens, ages 11 to 17. Our students often grapple with anxiety, depression, and other emotional or behavioral problems. At blueFire, we strive to help each client succeed.
For more information about blueFire Wilderness, please call 1 (844) 413-1999 today!