People with psychiatric illnesses are twenty times more likely to die from accidents or suicide than people without psychiatric disorders (http://www.nami.org). Major depression, including bipolar affective disorder, often appears for the first time during teenage years, and early recognition of these conditions will have profound effects on later morbidity and mortality.

Is depression in adolescents a significant problem? Well, the suicide rate for adolescents has increased more than 200% over the last decade (http://www.ndmda.org). Adolescent suicide is now responsible for more deaths in youths aged fifteen to nineteen than cardiovascular disease or cancer. Recent studies have shown that greater than twenty percent of adolescents in the general population have emotional pro

The student may be referred by the teacher to Mrs. Keglovits. By talking with the student it enables her to determine easier whether it is depression or not. When coming to a conclusion there are many avenues, which may be chosen. This is difficult to actually follow the plan of action because families have to agree to everything, including medication. Sometimes families do not follow through with the medication making it very hard for the child to receive help. Doctors are obviously also a factor. Sometimes doctors do not monitor dosage, making it harder for recovery. The dosages should be evaluated and checked on a regular basis. Also included in the plan of action, a school counselor may be brought in from the Intermediate unit.

Depression presents in adolescents with essentially the same symptoms as in adults; however, some clinical shrewdness may be required to translate the teenagers? symptoms into adult terms. Wearing black clothes, writing poetry with morbid themes, or listening to certain types of music may exemplify sadness. Sleep disturbance may manifest as all-night television watching, difficulty in getting up for school, or sleeping during the day. Missed classes reflect lack of motivation and lowered energy level. A drop in grade averages can be equated with loss of concentration and slowed thinking. Boredom may be a synonym for feeling depressed. Loss of appetite may become anorexia or bulimia. Adolescent depression may also present primarily as a behavior or conduct disorder, substance or alcohol abuse or as family turmoil and rebellion with no obvious symptoms reminiscent of depression (http://www.apa.org).

The most important question in my opinion that I asked her was, ?Why do you think depression is such a common problem among all ages?? Her answer seemed reasonable and intelligent. She said that some of today?s youth are unsure what they?re working for. Our economy is not the greatest right now so they lost motivation and purpose. Adolescence is also a time of growing and changing and some might get lost in the shuffle. Parents are also a factor in the problem. Sometimes there is an absence of parents and then the attention i

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Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)