Youth and Depression

The month of May brings many health observances such as stroke, seat belt safety, and arthritis, just to name a few.  I was having difficulty narrowing down which to write about and then I saw that as many as one in eight teens and one in 33 children have clinical depression.  If that was not enough, suicide is the sixth leading cause of death in 5-14 year olds!  Depression in our youth is something we need to know more about.
 
Depression is more than just “feeling blue”.  It is also different than feelings of grief.  It is neither a personal weakness nor a character flaw.  Depression is a serious health problem that impacts feelings, thoughts and actions and can even appear as a physical illness.  It is not something that our children and teens will “snap out of.”
 
The following are signs of depression according to the National Mental Health Association:

• Persistent sadness
• Withdrawal from family, friends and activities that were once enjoyed
• Increased irritability or agitation
• Changes in eating and sleeping
• Frequent physical complaints, such as headaches and stomachaches
• Lack of enthusiasm or motivation
• Decreased energy level and chronic fatigue
• Play that involves excessive aggression toward self or others, or that involves persistently sad themes
• Indecision, lack of concentration or forgetfulness
• Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt
• Recurring thoughts of death or suicide

 
What can you do if you know of a child that has some of the signs?  First note the signs that they exhibit as well as the duration, frequency and severity of   troubling behavior.  Get as much information as you can and take the child to see a mental health professional or physician for an evaluation.
 
One reason that knowing the signs and symptoms is so important is that left untreated depression can lead to thoughts of suicide.  Two startling facts are that every two hours, a young person kills himself and three million teenagers have considered suicide or attempted suicide in the past year.
 
If you have any concerns or questions please contact your Parish Nurse.
 
 
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those who are crushed in spirit.”
                                                                    Psalm 34:18
 
Your Parish Nurse
Johnnie Trask
665-5359/ext.207; nurse@icc-msh.org