COVER PAGE

Candidate’s Name: Chelsea Francis

School’s Name: El Dorado West Secondary School

Teacher: Ms. Maraj

Candidate’s Number:

Centre Number: 160182

Topic: Youth Mental Health

Sub-Topic: Effects Of Depression On Youths

Examination Year: 2023

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

PLAN OF INVESTIGATION 3
ARTEFACT 1: POEM 4
ARTEFACT 2: ARTICLE 5
ARTEFACT 3: POSTER 9
REFLECTION 1: 10
REFLECTION 2 11
REFLECTION 3 12
GROUP REPORT 13
BIBLIOGRAPHY 14
 PLAN OF INVESTIGATION

My group’s topic is ‘Youth Mental Health’. I would be focusing on ‘The Effects of

Depression on Youths’. I chose this topic because it isn’t fully understood what
happens when youths are depressed and the effects that happen and I would like to
educate others. As an English student, I hope to improve my summary writing,
vocabulary and uses of literary device skills. I plan to collect a poem, an article and
a piece from a book. I hope to use my literary device skills, vocabulary and summary
writing skills in my oral presentation, reflections and written report.

Word Count: 98
 ARTEFACT 1: POEM

Author: Tiffany Lane

Date: august 2011

URL: https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/screams-drag-me-under

Screams drag me under by Tiffany Lane

This can't be real

This pain I feel
I'm in a dark cave
All alone never to be saved

Won't somebody find me?

Open my eyes, let me see
Bring me back into the light
Into happiness and what's right

I hide myself under a pile of lies

So no one sees the secrets behind these immortal eyes

No one understands and they never will

Why my life is like a big long bill
I have to pay the price of living
It's myself that I am giving

Depression is what drags me under

Why can't they hear my screams I wonder
I'm screaming to you
Please help me through

There has to me more than this

Somewhere out there, there must be bliss
But until I find it I am here
In this pool of unforgiving tears.
 ARTEFACT 2: ARTICLE

Author: Debra Fulghum Bruce, PhD

Date:september 24th, 2021

URL: https://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/teen-depression

Teen Depression

Do you ever wonder whether your irritable or unhappy adolescent might actually be
experiencing teen depression? Of course, most teens feel unhappy at times. And
when you add hormone havoc to the many other changes happening in a teen's life,
it's easy to see why their moods swing like a pendulum. Yet findings show that one
out of every eight adolescents has teen depression. But depression can be treated
as well as the serious problems that come with it. So if your teen's unhappiness lasts
for more than two weeks and they display other symptoms of depression, it may be
time to seek help from a health professional.

Why do adolescents get depression?

There are multiple reasons why a teenager might become depressed. For example,
teens can develop feelings of worthlessness and inadequacy over their grades.
School performance, social status with peers, sexual orientation, or family life can
each have a major effect on how a teen feels. Sometimes, teen depression may
result from environmental stress. But whatever the cause, when being with friends or
family -- or doing things that the teen usually enjoys -- don't help to improve their
sadness or sense of isolation, there's a good chance that they have teen depression.

What are the symptoms of teen depression?

Often, kids with teen depression will have a noticeable change in their thinking and
behavior. The most common symptom of depression is sadness for no apparent
reason most of the time. They may have no motivation and even become withdrawn,
closing their bedroom door after school and staying in their room for hours.
Kids with teen depression may sleep excessively, have a change in eating habits,
and may even exhibit criminal behaviors such as DUI or shoplifting.

Here are more signs of depression in adolescents even though they may or may not
show all signs:
Apathy
Complaints of pains, including headaches, stomachaches, low back pain, or fatigue
Difficulty concentrating
Difficulty making decisions
Excessive or inappropriate guilt
Irresponsible behavior -- for example, forgetting obligations, being late for classes,
skipping school
Loss of interest in food or compulsive overeating that results in rapid weight loss or
gain Memory loss
Preoccupation with death and dying
Rebellious behavior
Sadness, anxiety, or a feeling of hopelessness
Staying awake at night and sleeping during the day
Sudden drop in grades

Use of alcohol or drugs and promiscuous sexual activity Withdrawal from friends
Feeling helpless
Unexplained crying
Extreme sensitivity to rejection or failure
For in-depth information, see WebMD's Symptoms of Depression.

Can teen depression run in families?

Yes. Depression, which usually starts between the ages of 15 and 30, sometimes
can run in families. In fact, teen depression may be more common among
adolescents who have a family history of depression.

How is teen depression diagnosed?

There aren't any specific medical tests that can detect depression. Health care
professionals determine if a teen has depression by conducting interviews and
psychological tests with the teen and their family members, teachers, and peers.
The severity of the teen depression and the risk of suicide are determined based on
the assessment of these interviews. Treatment recommendations are also made
based on the data collected from the interviews.

The doctor will also look for signs of potentially co-existing psychiatric disorders such
as anxiety or substance abuse or screen for complex forms of depression such as
bipolar disorder (manic depressive illness) or psychosis. The doctor will also assess
the teen for risks of suicide or homicide. Incidences of attempted suicide and
self-mutilation is higher in females than males while completed suicide is higher in
males. One of the most vulnerable groups for completed suicide is the 18-24 age
group.

How is teen depression treated?

There are a variety of methods used to treat depression, including medications and
psychotherapy. Family therapy may be helpful if family conflict is contributing to a
teen's depression. The teen will also need support from family or teachers to help
with any school or peer problems. Occasionally, hospitalization in a psychiatric unit
may be required for teenagers with severe depression.
Your mental health care provider will determine the best course of treatment for your
teen.
The FDA warns that antidepressant medications can, rarely, increase the risk of
suicidal thinking and behavior in children and adolescents with depression and other
psychiatric disorders. Use of antidepressants in younger patients, therefore, requires
especially close monitoring and follow-up by the treating doctor. If you have
questions or concerns, discuss them with your health care provider.

Does depression medicine work for teen depression?

Yes. A large number of research trials have shown the effectiveness of depression
medications in relieving the symptoms of teen depression. One key recent study,
funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, reviewed three different
approaches to treating adolescents with moderate to severe depression:

One approach was using the antidepressant medication Prozac, which is approved
by the FDA for use with pediatric patients ages 8-18.
The second treatment was using cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, to help the
teen recognize and change negative patterns of thinking that may increase
symptoms of depression.
The third approach was a combination of medication and CBT.
At the end of the 12-week study, researchers found that nearly three out of every
four patients who received the combination treatment -- depression medication and
psychotherapy -- significantly improved. More than 60% of the kids who took Prozac
alone improved. But the study confirmed that combination treatment was nearly
twice as effective in relieving depression as psychotherapy alone.
What are the warning signs for teen suicide?
Teen suicide is a serious problem. Adolescent suicide is the second leading cause of
death, following accidents, among youth and young adults in the U.S. It is estimated
that 500,000 teens attempt suicide every year with 5,000 succeeding. These are
epidemic numbers.
Family difficulties, the loss of a loved one, or perceived failures at school or in
relationships can all lead to negative feelings and depression. And teen depression
often makes problems seem overwhelming and the associated pain unbearable.
Suicide is an act of desperation and teen depression is often the root cause.
Warning signs of suicide with teen depression include:
Expressing hopelessness for the future
Giving up on one's self, talking as if no one else cares
Preparing for death, giving away favorite possessions, writing goodbye letters, or
making a will
Starting to use or abuse drugs or alcohol to aid sleep or for relief from their mental
anguish Defiant behavior
Acting violently
Threatening to kill one's self
If your teenager displays any of these behaviors, you should seek help from a mental
health professional immediately. Or you can call a suicide hotline for help.
Depression carries a high risk of suicide. Anybody who expresses suicidal thoughts
or intentions should be taken very, very seriously. Do not hesitate to call your local
suicide hotline immediately. Call 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) or
1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255).
What can parents do to alleviate teen depression?
Parenting teens can be very challenging. There are, though, some effective
parenting and communication techniques you can use to help lower the stress level
for your teenager:

When disciplining your teen, replace shame and punishment with positive
reinforcement for good behavior. Shame and punishment can make an adolescent
feel worthless and inadequate.
Allow your teenager to make mistakes. Overprotecting or making decisions for teens
can be perceived as a lack of faith in their abilities. This can make them feel less
confident.
Give your teen breathing room. Don't expect teens to do exactly as you say all of the
time. Do not force your teen down a path you wanted to follow. Avoid trying to relive
your youth through your teen's activities and experiences.
If you suspect that your teen is depressed, take the time to listen to their concerns.
Even if you don't think the problem is of real concern, remember that it may feel very
real to someone who is growing up.
Keep the lines of communication open, even if your teen seems to want to withdraw.
Try to avoid telling your teen what to do. Instead, listen closely and you may discover
more about the issues causing the problems.
If there is a close friend or family member your teen is close to and comfortable with,
you might suggest your teen talk with this person about their concerns.
If you feel overwhelmed or unable to reach your teen, or if you continue to be
concerned, seek help from a qualified health care professional.
 ARTEFACT 3: POSTER

Author: Alena Igdeeva

Date: unknown

URL:
https://www.dreamstime.com/print-vector-medical-poster-depression-symptoms-dise
ase-prevention-illustration-cute-girl-image156702533
 REFLECTION 1:

I was aware of some of the effects of depression on youths before undertaking this
subtopic. However after reading the poem "screams drag me under," I realised that
depression in young people might change their thinking and invalidate their feelings.
Debra Fulghum Bruce's article "depression" taught me why young people experience
sadness, how to identify and manage it, as well as some symptoms and signs of
teen depression. I also discovered some new signs of depression like sensitivity of
emotions and unexpected outburst. Two odd consequences of depression that
young people may experience are loss of interest and pleasure as well as isolation.I
Learnt this in the Alena Igdeeva "depression" poster. I also learned about the signs
of depression in young people, its risk factors, treatments, and preventions. These
specific artefacts have motivated me to research more about this subtopic and
spread awareness of the effects of depression among youths.

Word count: 149

 REFLECTION 2

In my first artefact 'Screams Drag Me Under' emotive language was used. "Bring me
back into the light, into happiness and what's right" explains that the person is in a
depressed state and wants to get out of that phase.In the article 'Teen Depression'
expository language was used, the writer explained all one needs to know about
teen depression like 'how adolescents get depressed?', 'What are the symptoms of
teen depression?' , ' Can depression run in families?' ,'How is depression
diagnosed?' , 'How is depression treated?', ' Does depression medicine work for teen
depression?' These topics gave the reader an understanding of the topic. Lastly, the
poster 'Depression' used sub-headings to draw the attention of the reader. The sub
heading used were 'Risk factors' ' Symptoms' ' Treatment' and 'Prevention'.

Word Count: 128

 REFLECTION 3

This sba has taught me that teenagers are depressed quite often and aren't aware
when it happens or their sudden change in behaviour neither are they aware of the
symptoms. Teenagers also use different methods to cope with depression, some are
turning to drugs, negative thoughts and self isolation. My experience working with a
group was beneficial and educational, my group members were helpful and assisted
me with any help needed. Working with my group taught me to be patient and helped
me take in consideration of others opinions. My ability to utilize literary devices and
vocabulary has improved throughout writing the SBA.
 GROUP REPORT

The group investigated the topic “Youth Mental Health.” We researched the
sub-topics “Effects Of Drugs On Youth Mental Health,” “Causes Of Suicide Among
Youths,” “Effects Of Depression On Youths,” and “Eating Disorder Among Youths.”
We chose these specific artifacts because these are topics relating to Mental Health,
artifacts were easily accessible and there was a variety of information relating to our
sub-topics. Many teenagers suffer with Mental Health issues and our group would
like to educate them about it.
Our group met via Google Meet and at school and shared information via whatsapp
to discuss the selection of the three artifacts. The three artifacts selected were an
article, “How Substance/Drug Use Affects Children,” by Holly Holloway, a report by
Claire McCarty and a poem, “Screams Drag Me Under,” by Tiffany Lane. These
pieces aptly explained an overall understanding about Youth Mental Health.
The article “How Substance/Drug Abuse Affects Children” explained that teenagers
run into problems more quickly than adults who do drugs, since a teenager's brain is
still developing and it can have a bad impact on their academics and social life. The
report by Claire McCarty explained that anxiety in teenagers can be caused by
genetics, brain chemistry, personality disorder and life events. Finally, the poem
“Screams Drag Me Under” portrayed a distressing image of how depression can
cause havoc in your family and social life, since youths refuse to speak about how
they feel.
We concluded that youths suffer with mental health issues more than realized and in
order to help them become balanced people in society, they need to find ways to
cope with their emotions.
Our group worked together and each member selected relevant points. We
collaborated using google docs and the report was sent to the members for
commentary before submitting.

(298 words)
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

Title: Screams drag me under

Author: Tiffany Lane
Date: august 2011
URL: https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/screams-drag-me-under

Title: Teen Depression

Author: Debra Fulghum Bruce, PhD
Date:september 24th, 2021
URL: https://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/teen-depression

Title: NIL
Author: Alena Igdeeva
Date: unknown
URL:
https://www.dreamstime.com/print-vector-medical-poster-depression-symptoms-dise
ase-prevention-illustration-cute-girl-image156702533

Title: NIL
Author:Claire McCarty
Year published-11/20/201
URL-www.AmericanAcademyofPediatrics.com

Title- How Substance/Drug Use Affects Children

Author- Holly Holloway
URL: https:// childmind.org/article/mental-health-disorders-and-substance-use