According to the National Institute of Mental Health, depression can be defined as a state of mental instability which affects the human body, mood, thought pattern, and relationship with others. Statistics from the National Institute of Mental Health shows that about eleven percent of teenagers have depressive disorder by age eighteen. (National Institute of Mental Health). Teenage depression is one of the issues confronting teenagers in today’s society. Depression can occur at every age in the human life, but it is more common in teenagers. Teenager depression can be a major obstacle to teenagers actualizing their dreams and goals in life. This can have several negative effects on the life of teenagers and their families. The causes of teenager depression may be grouped mainly into two categorizes; they are psychological and environmental causes. The psychological factors/causes deals with the less physical but mental causes of teen depression. While the environmental factors/causes deal mainly with the more physical and obvious causes. Sometimes teenagers may struggle with certain actions which may lead to them being depressed. These causes maybe, academic pressure from parents, bullying, verbal abuse, and chronic illness. Parents' most times place high academic expectations on their kids, not considering the child’s academic ability. When kids are not appreciated for the effort they put into their school work, but rather are scolded, they may end up seeing their selves as not good enough. This can lead to them being depressed and may consider dropping out of school. Bullying can also be considered as a major problem in the teenager bracket. This can occur in any social environment not just schools as mostly portrayed. Bullyi... ... middle of paper ... ...peers to abuse or become dependent on marijuana” (Office of the National Drug Control Policy). Conclusively, teenage depression is a chronic problem in the life of teenagers, which should be properly handled. When signs of this are seen in teenagers, adequate steps should be taken, in order to ensure their safety and restore their mental strength. Works Cited Bock, Robert. National Institute of Health News. 21 September 2010. Web. 14 April 2014. Keith A. King, and Rebecca A. Vidourek. "Teen Depression and Suicide: Effective Prevention and Intervention Strategies." The Prevention Researcher (2012): 15. Web. National Institute of Mental Health. "Teen Marijuana use Worsens Depression." 2007. National Institute of Mental Health. Web. 22 March 2014. Office of the National Drug Control Policy. "National Survey on Drug Use and Health." May 2008. Print. 26 March 2014.
Vidourek, Rebecca A., Ph.D., and Keith A. King, Ph.D. “Teen Depression and Suicide: Effective Prevention and Intervention Strategies.” Prevention Researcher Nov. 2012: 15-17. Print.
Volkow, Nora D., M.D. “Marijuana Abuse.” National Institute on Drug Abuse. N.p., July 2012. Web. 19 Feb. 2014. .
Teenage Depression. Everywhere you look these two words appear together as one, in newspapers and magazines, as well as in scholarly reports. Teenage depression is one of today's "hot topics" this among other teenage mental health problems, has been brought to the forefront of public consciousness in recent years after several incidents involving school shootings (CQ 595). The environment that teens grow up in today is less supportive and more demanding than it was twenty years ago. Not only are the numbers of depressed teens rising, but children are also being diagnosed at younger and younger ages. Studies have found that, "There is an estimated 1.5-3 million American children and adolescents who suffer from depression, a condition unrecognized in children until about 20 years ago" (CQR 595). This increase in depression is due to social factors that teenagers have to deal with everyday. A recent study found that, "About five percent of teenagers have major depression at any one time. Depression can be very impairing, not only for the affected teen, but also for his or her family-and too often, if not addressed, depression can lead to substance abuse or more tragic events" (NAMI.org). Gender roles and other societal factors including the pressures on girls to look and act a certain way, the pressures on boys to suppress their emotions and put on a tough front and the pressures on both sexes to do well in school and succeed, all contribute to depression in teens today. Depression is a growing problem which crosses gender lines and one that needs to be dealt with with more than just medication.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. "The Nagative consequences of Marijuana Use." Marijuana (Contemporary Issues Companion). Tardiff, Joseph, ed. Farmington Hills: Greenhaven Press, 2008. 34-44. Print
There are many causes which make a teenager contemplate suicide, such as bullying, depression, and substance abuse. The effects of someone committing suicide are tremendous; it can go from family, to friends, to other suicidal teens, causing devastation and even more suicides. The only hope for this epidemic is awareness and prevention. There are many prevention techniques such as, antidepressants and warning sign detection. Teen suicide is a serious problem and must be treated as such.
According to the DEA, “marijuana smuggling into the United States has occurred at consistently high levels over the past 10 years, primarily across the US–Mexico border, where more than a million kilograms of marijuana are seized annually.” With the availability of marijuana increasing, there has also been an increase in use among young adults. The DEA also reports, “Use of the drug will likely continue to increase over the next decade; recent national-level studies indicate that use is most prevalent among young adults, with adolescent acceptance and illicit use increasing.” Personally, in and of itself, I’ve found that use of marijuana for social purposes can have very little consequences (as long as used responsibly). The trouble is that social use can very often lead to addiction, and it’s hard to say when that invisible line gets crossed.
The risk factors associated with suicide are the presence of psychological issues that can range from depression, bipolar disorders, anxiety, and anger. Genetics may play a part of the mental issues for some teenagers which can contribute to thoughts of suicide. Major disappointments and failure in school are other triggers for suicidal tendencies. Mood disorders, particularly depression are significant risk factors for suicide-related behaviors in teenagers. Many teenagers are very vulnerable to society and would do just about anything to fit into that social circle just for acceptance (Mood Disorder, 2011). Cognitive changes are also a factor in the psychological and emotional state of teenagers and play a role in suicidal thinking and behavioral issues (Adolescence,
...ssures to be the best they can be academically. With all these pressures of adolescence on the rise, more and more teens are falling prey to the alluring “high” that allows a temporary leave from their problems and stress. Because teens lack the maturity and knowledge to understand long term consequences, they tend not to think about the down falls that they will face as a result of the drug use. This is especially true when it come to marijuana, as it is seen by so many as the harmless drug. With the increased use of marijuana by youth over the last three decades, it is imperative that better preventative measures, and firmer penalties, be put in place to educate and raise awareness concerning the risks and dangerous side effects that marijuana use can have. Only once society has put these preventative measures in to action, will there be an effective change seen.
187. The. (2013) n. page. print. “Marijuana Abuse.” National Institute on Drug Abuse: The Science of Drug Abuse and Addiction.
...owing problem amongst today's teenagers. Depression brings with it many problems that can be self-destructive. If a teenager has the benefit of early intervention and help in coping with his or her depression, however, the life script can be quite different.
Some psychological disorders can appear during adolescence like depression and anxiety unless parents or family support them. Society can help adolescents during this turbulent time of growth by creating some programs in the schools for all teenagers who do not have support. Even those who have support like family or friends need to know they have someone else they can go talk to and be able express themselves. Adolescent years are very difficult and teenagers need lots of support.
Inside the Gate: Insiders’ Perspectives on Marijuana as a Gateway Drug. Sidney, S., Beck, J. E., Tekawa, I. S., Quesenberry Jr., C. P., & Friedman, G. D. (1997). Marijuana Use and Mortality. American Journal Of Public Health, 87(4), 585-590.
A category of strategies to prevent bullying in schools is identifying the causes of bullying. One factor that may cause bullying is the students’s family life. The lack of love or approval and involvement from the parents or overly permissive parenting where there is a lack of supervision or no rules may initiate bullying as the child may feel insecure. Another factor that may cause bullying is peer pressure. Friends who are aggressive and hav...
Bullying is something that is not something new and is actually something that society continues to face. Over the years, bullying has been looked at as being so ordinary in schools that it is continuously overlooked as an emanate threat to students and has been lowered to a belief that bullying is a part of the developmental stage that most young children will experience then overcome (Allebeck, 2005, p. 129). Not everyone gets over the extreme hurt that can come as an effect from bullying, for both the bully and the victim. Because of this, we now see bullying affecting places such as the workplace, social events and even the home. The issue of bullying is not only experienced in schools, but the school environment is one of the best places
Empfield, M., Bakalar, N. (2001). Understanding Teenage Depression: A Guide to Diagnosis, Treatment and Management, Holt Paperbacks, New York.