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Maxwell Edwards

Prof. Freeland

English 1201

15 November 2020

What is the best way to treat depression among teens?

People everywhere have experienced depression either within themselves, or through

someone else. For example, the first experience I have ever had with depression among teens

was my freshman year in high school. During the fall of my freshman year, I learned that a friend

of mine had made plans and attempts to take his own life. I have heard about people taking their

own lives, but I always assumed these people were young adults in their thirties, not fourteen

year old kids. I didn't know how to help him, so I asked my school counselor to provide my

friend with the help he needed. I knew enough to reach out and ask for help.

My second and most recent experience with depression among teens was when the

corona pandemic hit the United States. When the pandemic hit, my school instantly shut down

without warning. My family and community went into quarantine which led me to have very

little contact with the world outside my house. It was during this time that I found myself in a

depressive state of mind. I didn't want to eat or do anything. Once I went back to school, I

noticed I wasn't the only one with this mindset. My classmates also felt the same way. Some of

the happiest, glass half full people I know were all of the sudden dull and hopeless. These

experiences showed me how vulnerable teens are to depression. I learned that teens can become

depressed just as easily as adults.

With this ongoing battle of depression among teens, there have been debates over the best

method to cure depression. Research indicates the best way to cure depression in teens is through
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therapy. Therapy decreases depressive symptoms, is not addictive like medication, teaches the

teenagers causes of their depression, and is recommended even when someone is taking

medicine. Still some believe medication is the best way to cure depression because medicine

usually decreases depressive symptoms faster. However medication can be extremely addictive

and can cause symptoms to become worse as well as risks with side effects.

As professionals have studied cases of depression, they have found no one is immune to

depression. In 2018, roughly 17.3 million adults ages 18 and older in America were experiencing

depression. Of this 17.3 million, 7 million are aged 65 and older. This is roughly 7.2 percent of

the adults living in America. Of the children between the ages of twelve and seventeen, 14.4

percent were suffering from depression which is roughly 1.9 million teens (“Depression” 1;

DBSA 1). These statistics show that age is irrelevant; anyone can have or even develop

depression. As professionals have studied depression, they have learned no one person is fully

immune to depression, including teens. Ever since teens have first been diagnosed with

depression, many treatments have been developed. Treatment could take the form of medication,

like antidepressants or other supplements. Treatment for depression could also be some sort of

therapy. With all different kinds of medication and numerous forms of therapy, it is often hard to

tell which treatment is the best.

Of these treatments, therapy more specifically psychotherapy, appears to be the best one.

Psychotherapy, also known as psychological counseling or talk therapy, involves a mental health

professional talking with someone diagnosed or experiencing depression (Mayo Clinic Staff 3).

Psychotherapy helps teens learn what causes their depression, which is the first step in curing

depression. Most causes fall under one of three categories: chronic illnesses, negative

emotionality, or mental health conditions. Chronic illnesses are conditions that last for a long
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period of time. Some examples of chronic illnesses are heart disease, diabetes, and epilepsy.

Negative emotionality simply means that the person with depression tends to stick with sad

thoughts and moods. In other words the person is drawn towards sadness and things that make

them feel sad. Mental health conditions like the name implies are conditions that affect one

mentally. For example, anxiety and PTSD are both considered mental health conditions

(“Depression” 2). All of these examples can cause depression. Through therapy, teens are able to

identify the cause which will allow them to better understand their depression and begin

treatment.

Once teens are able to determine the cause of their depression, psychotherapy can help

teens treat their depression through lifestyle changes. One example of a lifestyle change is

exercise. Daily exercise gives results similar to antidepressants. Antidepressants and exercise

boost serotonin and endorphin levels in the brain(Smith 4). This causes teens to be less likely to

dwell on negative thoughts, and leads to decreasing their depression symptoms. Getting enough

sleep is another lifestyle change recommended in psychotherapy. When teens don’t get enough

sleep, their depression worsens. Sleep deprivation causes teens to more easily become sad,

worsening their depression. Through psychotherapy, teens can learn how much sleep they need

in order to improve their depression (Smith 3).

One of the most influential lifestyle changes is social support. Social support is when

teens are surrounded by people who care and love them. It is through social support that teens are

able to talk about their depression. Having strong and loving social support helps all teens

throughout their battle of depression. These are just three of many lifestyle changes that

psychotherapy recommends to help teens cure their depression (Smith 3).

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Another reason why psychotherapy is better than medication is because psychotherapy

has less risks. Medication prescribed for dealing with depression is commonly referred to as

antidepressants. The two common antidepressants are fluoxetine (Prozac) and escitalopram

(Lexapro) (Mayo Clinic Staff 2). These medications taken as prescribed have been proven

effective in treating and curing depression. However, in some cases the antidepressants have

caused an increase in depressive symptoms, essentially making the depression worse, instead of

curing it. Also in many cases it takes several weeks for the medication to take full effect (Hurley

4; Mayo Clinic Staff 3). Some antidepressants are also highly addictive. This means they are not

able to stop taking the medication without side effects like withdrawal symptoms.

Psychotherapy on the other hand isn’t addictive. Patients can stop therapy anytime they

want. In some cases medication has worked quicker than psychotherapy, but the risks are not

worth it when patients can get the same results through psychotherapy. With all the risks

presented with medication, medication is only typically used for extreme cases of depression.

These extreme cases of depression are not commonly seen in teens. For this reason

psychotherapy is a better option for teens with depression.

Fig. 1 FDA warning label commonly found on antidepressant containers (Sifferlin)

Mental health professionals have also found that there are four basic forms of depression:

persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia), seasonal affective disorder (SAD), psychotic

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depression, and disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD). Dysthymia is depression that

lasts two or more years. SAD is depression that occurs seasonally; mostly found to occur during

the winter months. Psychotic depression is severe depression along with psychosis like

delusions, hallucinations or paranoia. DMDD is typically only found in children from six to

eighteen (“Depression” 2). Even though DMDD is found in children it should be taken just as

seriously as the other forms of depression. However in most cases DMDD can be resolved

through psychotherapy and without the use of medication. Since DMDD is the most common

form of depression among teens, it is best to start treatment with psychotherapy and not

medication.

Even though DMDD is the most common form of depression among teens, other forms

of depression have been diagnosed in teens. In some cases medication is required to help the

teen. This is mostly due to an imbalance of chemicals in the teen’s brain. This imbalance leads

the teen to have severe depressive symptoms. It also increases suicidal tendencies in teens

drastically (“Depression” 1). This increase in suicidal tendencies is the main reason why

medication is required. Since in most cases medication has been found to have quicker effects

than therapy, medical professionals will typically prescribe antidepressants to the teen. However,

medical professionals will also recommend and, in some cases, require that the teen go through

psychotherapy as well (Smith 2). When medication is taken by the teen, therapy helps make sure

that the antidepressants don’t worsen depressive symptoms and assists them in discontinuing

medication when appropriate.

When teens are taking antidepressants it is very important to manage the medication. To

help ensure that the medication doesn’t worsen symptoms, it is important that the teen doesn’t

take any more or any less than what doctors prescribe. When teens take too much than
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prescribed, addiction can occur. Once teens are addicted, it is very hard and painful for teens to

stop taking the medication. Addiction can also lead to overdose. Overdose is when the teen takes

excessive amounts of the antidepressants and they often unfortunately die from the

antidepressant overdose (Mayo Clinic Staff 2). This is also why medication is not the best

treatment. Psychotherapy does not cause any teens to overdose nor has psychotherapy proven to

be addictive.

Just like are different types of antidepressants, they are different types of psychotherapy

as well. The first type is cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT. CBT helps teens identify negative

behaviors and beliefs and replace them with positive and healthy ones (Pruthi 3). The second

type is dialectical behavior therapy. Dialectical behavior therapy is very closely related to CBT.

Dialectical behavior therapy teaches teens behavioral skills to help them handle stress and

manage their emotions. The third type of psychotherapy is acceptance and commitment therapy.

This helps teens commit to positive life changes, and it helps teens to cope with their

depression(Pruthi 4). The fourth type is psychodynamic and psychoanalysis therapies that help

teens by making them aware of their unconscious thoughts and behaviors which can be a cause

of their depression. This form of therapy also helps teens resolve conflicts and gives them

motivation to fight through depression. The fifth type is interpersonal psychotherapy. This form

of psychotherapy helps teens develop a strong and loving social support. By working on how

teens can develop and strengthen relationships, interpersonal psychotherapy gives teens the

ability to have a strong social support. The final type of psychotherapy is supportive

psychotherapy. This reinforces teens' ability to cope with stress and challenging situations

(Pruthi 4). Although there are many different types of psychotherapy that doesn’t mean teens are

limited to just one or two. Teens may need parts of all six types in order to beat their depression.
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Psychotherapists can not just make depression disappear magically. It takes commitment

from teens in order for therapy to work. Teens need to realize that therapy does not always give

instantaneous results. Working on improving emotions and behaviors takes several sessions of

therapy before teens can see the progress they have made. It is for this reason that teens have to

be patient and persistent with therapy. Teens also need to be honest and open with their

psychotherapist(s). If teens are willing to share how they feel and act honestly, then therapy will

be very successful. Hiding how they feel and act will only delay results and worsen their

depression. Teens also need to be willing to communicate with their therapist when they feel

therapy isn’t working. If teens feel that the psychotherapy they are doing is not working, they

need to let their therapist know (Pruthi 5). This allows psychotherapists the ability to better treat

the teens' depression.

Many people are not willing to try psychotherapy because they have to share how they

truly feel. It is for this reason that medication is the more known treatment plan. However just

because medication is the more popular choice doesn’t mean it is the best for everyone. Studies

have shown that no one case of depression is the same as the other (Smith 2). This means that

there is no one treatment that is the best for everyone. In reality there is no one size fits all

treatment. That is why it is best for teens to seek professional help when dealing with their

depression.

With medication being the more common form of treatment it is important to understand

what exactly a medication treatment is. Medication treatment plans involve patients diagnosed

with depression taking medicine prescribed by a doctor. This medicine is called an

antidepressant because it is specifically designed to help people with depression. Antidepressants

work by balancing chemicals in your brain. If someone has depression it is usually due to a high
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level of a chemical in the brain (“Depression” 1). Medication treatment plans also require

patients to be committed to taking the antidepressant for a long period of time. Usually doctors

require patients to take the medicine for at least a year, maybe more. Medication treatment plans

take at least a year, whereas psychotherapy usually only takes roughly four to six weeks with

check ups every now and then (Mayo Clinic Staff 4).

Antidepressants are not the best way for treating depression. When people with

depression take antidepressants, they become reliant on these medicines. This means they lose

the ability to cure their depression naturally. Since they lose this ability, the only way for them to

stop their depression is to take antidepressants. Psychotherapy on the other hand allows people

with depression to cure their depression naturally. This means that they are able to balance the

chemicals in their brains without the aid of an outside source. Since psychotherapy allows

patients to cure their depression naturally, psychotherapy is more effective than antidepressants

(Smith 2).

Whether a depressive patient goes through a medical treatment plan or a psychotherapy

treatment plan, they will find improvement in their depression. However it does take time.

Eighty percent of patients show results of their depression improving within the first four to six

weeks of starting a treatment plan (DBSA 6). This means that no matter what route, medical or

therapy, those with depression can and will be cured given time.

Even with such a high success rate, two out of three people don’t seek help with their

depression (DBSA 6). There is not a clear reason as to why, but it may have to do with isolation.

Isolation is a key factor in depression. Isolation causes people to become sad and ultimately leads

to depression. Isolation also causes one to feel like they are all by themselves. This means they

feel like no one else can help them and that they are just going to suffer. Depressive thoughts can
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lead to feelings of helplessness. When feeling helpless it's difficult to reach out and believe

anyone or anything can help.

The key to dealing with depression is to do the opposite of what depression wants you to

do. Depression causes people to stay quiet. This only makes things worse for them. Staying quiet

and holding on to all the emotions that come with depression is not healthy. Instead people

suffering from depression need to reach out. A great place to call is the National Suicide

Prevention Lifeline (their number is 1-800-273-8255). The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

is free to call and will pick up at any time. They are also equipped with providing information on

how and where people suffering from depression can get the help they need.

Whether people with depression choose a medication treatment plan, or a psychotherapy

treatment plan; it is more important that they actively are seeking help. With such a high success

rate in both treatment plans, it seems silly for one to not get help. I still believe psychotherapy is

the best treatment plan. Psychotherapy doesn’t have any risks. While taking antidepressants,

patients take the risk of addiction, overdose, and just having worse symptoms. Psychotherapy

also is even recommended when taking antidepressants to help catch any signs that the

antidepressant is not working correctly. Also there are many forms and types of psychotherapy

so with enough trial and error every depression victim should be able to find therapy that works

best with them. That’s why psychotherapy is the best way to cure depression.
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Works Cited

DBSA Staff. “Depression Statistics.” ​Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance​, Depression and
Bipolar Support Alliance, 12 July 2019,
www.dbsalliance.org/education/depression/statistics/. Accessed 25 Oct. 2020.

"Depression." Gale Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection, Gale, 2020. Gale In Context:
Opposing Viewpoints,
https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/PC3010999281/OVIC?u=dayt30401&sid=OVIC&xid=0d
608645. Accessed 25 Oct. 2020.

Hurley, Katie. “Teens and Depression: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Risks.” ​Psycom.net - Mental
Health Treatment Resource Since 1986​, PSYCOM, 25 Sept. 2020,
www.psycom.net/depression.central.teens.html. Accessed 25 Oct. 2020.

Mayo Clinic Staff. “Teen Depression.” ​Mayo Clinic,​ Mayo Foundation for Medical Education
and Research, 16 Nov. 2018,
www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/teen-depression/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20350
991. Accessed 25 Oct. 2020.

Pruthi, Sandhya. “Psychotherapy.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and
Research, 17 Mar. 2016,
www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/psychotherapy/about/pac-20384616. Accessed 25
Oct. 2020.

Sifferlin, Alexandra. “Antidepressants and Suicide: Should the FDA Ease Its Warning?” Time,
Time, 10 Nov. 2014,
time.com/3575112/do-depression-drugs-still-need-suicide-warnings/. Accessed 25 Oct.
2020.

Smith, Melinda, et al. “Depression Treatment.” ​HelpGuide.org​, Help Guide, Sept. 2020,
www.helpguide.org/articles/depression/depression-treatment.htm. Accessed 25 Oct.
2020.