Adolescent Depression
Depression is a disease that afflicts the human psyche in such a way that the afflicted tend to act and react abnormally toward others and themselves. Adolescent depression is greatly under diagnosed, and leads to serious difficulties in school, and personal adjustment. The reason why depression is often overlooked in children is because children are not always able to express how they feel. Therefore, teachers should be trained in dealing with depressed youths, and to advise the parents of the child to seek professional treatment. School is the place where children spend most of their waking hours learning, socializing, and growing. A child needs to be mentally healthy in order to learn properly, and sometimes problems arise at home, with friends, or with themselves. These problems need to be noticed, and talked about. Teachers have to pay attention to adolescents' behavioral patterns, and work with the child on a one to one basis. The child can then open up and talk freely with the teacher about anything that is on their mind. Learning disabilities or conduct disorder can put a child in greater risk of depression. Therefore, treating one problem and ignoring the other will not help the child overcome their difficulties (Fassler
Antidepressants often are used daily for many years, yet researchers haven't conducted long term studies to see how the chemicals affect still growing bodies. Instead of punishing a child with detention, teachers can send the adolescent to an on site clinic to talk to someone. Symptoms for this include bullying, stealing, lying, and being consistently disobedient (Fassler 66). Other underlying symptoms of depression are eating disorders, hyperactivity, and substance abuse. When kids know that they can talk about their problems and feelings, they have a great coping tool at their disposal. Recent studies have shown that parent- child conversations concerning school related topics contribute to educational success (Carter 33). Until we have more research to prove the safeness of antidepressants among growing children, and more ideas of how our brain actually works, the best we as a society can do is educate our children through resilliance to help depressed kids the best way we can. If proven safe, more children can get help with psychiatric drugs (Koch 615). Family dynamics also contribute to depression in a child, such as physical or emotional abuse, substance abuse, criticism, idealizing, not enough reaction to the child's actions, and depressed parents themselves. The best hope to prevent depression is to teach resilience training in schools. In many communities, the only kids who can access mental health services are those who are deeply disturbed. A lot has changed in the past decade. Along with teachers, parents have to contribute in helping their child overcome their deep, repressed thoughts. A team approach involving caring adults can effectively address the existential dread of today's adolescent (Wren 594). Family must also play a major role in helping their depressed adolescent.
Common topics in this essay:
Children ADHD,
,
Zoloft Paxil,
Disorder ADHD,
Drug Administration,
Food Drug,
pay attention,
depressed parents,
hemisphere learning,
learning disabilities,
teachers pay attention,
food drug administration,
conduct disorder child,
hemisphere learning disability,
depression child,
fassler 125,
feel overwhelmed,
depression kids,
cerebral hemisphere,
left hemisphere learning,
coping tool,
|