Professional Documents
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Depression
Depression
Being a teen is not as easy as you think, it is the time when everything
becomes more
complicated. It is the time when one demands attention because confusion and
sadness takes
over. In this stage of their life, teens tend to question themselves about self-
worth or their
purpose in life. As this feeling doesn’t stop, there will be a point where
depression will take
over. Depression is a state in which a person feels very sad, hopeless, and
unimportant and
often unable to live in a normal way. Nowadays, the youth are very prone to
depression due
to many factors that can affect their emotional, mental, psychological state of
mind in their
everyday life especially being a student. But it depends on certain teenagers on
how he or
she handles it. Unlike adults, teenagers usually don’t know how to deal with
problems in life
that’s why when they encounter simple problems they will react negatively. They
treat
problems like a difficult one and think that there is no solution or way out of it.
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Objectives of the Study
The primary purpose of this study is to determine the factors that causes
depression
among teenagers. This objective will give solutions as to what causes teenagers to
be
emotionally compromised that lead them in to depressive state. This study also aims
to
identify the effects of depression among teenagers. And lastly, to recommend some
advices
to help teenagers cope up with depression. This study will utilized an article or
news- based
source in order to attain the objectives of this study. This study will also
provide information
to people especially who’s suffering from depression to become aware of what
depression
may bring to their lives.
Definition of Terms
To ensure a clear understanding of this study, the key terms used in this
study are
defined conceptually.
Chronic Illness - is a long-term health condition that may not have a cure
and persists
over a long period of time (MedlinePlus, 2019).
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Compromised - lacking adequate resistance to infection, or lacking the
ability to
mount an adequate immune response, owing to a course of treatment (Medical
Dictionary,
2018).
3
MAIN BODY
The causes for depression in teens are sometimes more harsh than the causes
in
adults. In a teen’s lifetime, they have to face many problems and sometimes they
have to face
these problems more than once. Teens have to deal with peer pressure problems at
school,
problems at home, the deaths of loved ones, and if they are already using drugs
this could
also be a cause. Many teens also have to deal with anxiety some point in their life
when they
wonder if they are attractive to other people of the opposite sex. If they do
believe that they
are unattractive they will most likely feel as though they have failed at
something. Then they
will act as if they do not care anymore, then the uncaring attitude increases until
they no
longer care about much at all. Depression also comes after a teenager is trying to
learn about
himself or herself and understand their body, and their emotions towards others.
Latest available data on the Philippines recorded by the WHO, reported over
2,000
cases of suicide from 2000 to 2012 ages 15 to 29 years old which is due to
depression.
Adolescents who suffer from teen depression are statistically much more likely to
attempt
suicide, so it is essential for parents and teachers to know how to spot the signs
of teen
depression and know what causes the disorder. According to Brames (2018) the
following
guide will discuss the most common reasons or factors that leads to teenage
depression:
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1. Social Ostracism
Teens who are socially ostracized from their peers are far more likely to
experience
depression. Adolescence is a time of uncertainty in which social acceptance
provides a solid
foundation for the teen’s self-image. Teens who are accepted by their peers
generally
develop healthier self-esteems than those who are isolated and excluded from social
groups.
Teens tend to form social cliques and exclude anyone outside them, which can make
it even
harder for isolated teens to find acceptance. Almost all teenagers experience some
level of
doubt about their own appearance, intelligence, popularity, and worth as a person.
Depressed teens may feel that the rejection they face from peers is a sign that
they lack
personal worth, therefore worsening the symptoms of depression and increasing
feelings of
isolation.
As much as teens can be rebellious, major life changes are even more
stressful in
adolescence than in adult life. Any drastic shifts in the home environment, such as
moving,
divorce, remarriage, or adoption, can trigger the symptoms of depression. If your
teen begins
showing warning signs of depression shortly after a major life change, monitor your
adolescent closely. If the symptoms last longer than a few weeks, it is very likely
that the teen
is suffering from clinical depression.
3. Low Self-Esteem
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4. Bullying
Bullying is one of the major causes of teen depression. Bullies are often
insecure teens
themselves, and many bullies suffer from teen depression as well. Certain teens are
more at
risk of being bullied than others, including LGBT teens and teens with special
needs. Being
perceived as different from the majority peer group is one of the main reasons for
depression
in teens, and bullies tend to target teens who are different from them in some way.
It is
important for parents and school officials to look out for the warning signs that a
teen is
being bullied based on his or her race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or
religion. Just
because a teen has one or more risk factors for bullying does not mean that action
needs to
be taken, but it does mean that the adults in the teen’s life should look for signs
that there is
a problem at school.
5. Problems at Home
Problems in the home, particularly those between a teen and his or her
parents, are
some of the most common reasons for depression in teens. During puberty, teens
begin to
spread their wings and seek independence from their parents, and the most important
relationships in those teens’ lives may shift from familial relationships to peer
relationships,
which can cause tension between teens and their parents. Sometimes this tension
leads to
family dysfunction and, in severe cases, abuse. If teens are being abused, verbally
or
physically, their chances of suffering from depression begin to rise. Abused teens
may feel
helpless and out of control of their home life. School is a stressful environment
for most
teens, so problems at home may leave those with teen depression feeling as if they
have
nowhere safe to rest and recharge. It is essential to sort out problems in the home
as soon as
symptoms of teen depression arise.
6. Genetic Depression
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Effects of Depression
As far back as 1997, the World Health Organization (WHO) considered that
depression was the second greatest cause of disability in the world. In this
research nearly a
quarter of a million people in 60 countries were studied. After allowing for
socioeconomic
factors and other health conditions, depression had the largest effect on worsening
health,
and people with depression in addition to another chronic illness had the worst
health
measures of all disease states. One in every 10 Filipinos between 15 and 24 years
old
admitted to being depressed in a survey conducted by the University of the
Philippines
Population Institute and the Demographic Research and Development Foundation. But
only
1 in every 3 depressives seek help, according to the Department of Health. The rest
either
bear the symptoms in silence too embarrassed to seek help or continue to suffer
from
depression without knowing it.
2013 2014
2015 2016
Causes of Death Total
Total Total Total
Total 88 119
58 133
Mild depressive episode 1 1
0 0
Moderate depressive episode 0 0
0 0
Severe depressive episode without psychotic symptoms 9 12
27 0
Severe depressive episode with psychotic symptoms 2 3
2 1
Other depressive episodes 0 0
0 0
Depressive episode, unspecified 76 103
29 132
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority, Civil Registration Service, Vital
Statistics Division
Both eating too much and not eating too much can be the effect of
depression. Some
people with depression have a loss of appetite, while others increases the amount
of food
they eat that lead to a sudden losing or gaining weight. A depressed person lose
interest and
energy because they are engulf with sadness that’s why they don’t have appetite to
eat or
they lose interest to eat. On the other hand, the feeling of sadness and
worthlessness can
make a person to over eat. "Depression can also result in emotional eating, a
common event
in which the need to eat is not associated with physical hunger," says Debra J.
Johnston, RD,
culinary services manager at Remuda Ranch, an eating disorder treatment center in
Wickenburg, Ariz. "Instead, emotional eating is eating in response to emotional
hunger.
When patients eat in response to their emotions, they are soothed by the food as it
changes
the chemical balance in the brain, produces a feeling of fullness that is more
comfortable than
an empty stomach, and improves mood through positive association with happier
times."
3. Fatigue
People with depression more likely experience fatigue. They are like a
walking
zombie that don’t have the strength to even walk properly. Fatigue is associated
with
insomnia and the loss of appetite. Sleep and food give a person energy to do their
daily
routine, when one cannot sleep well and eat well they don’t have the energy to
perform their
daily activities. Hypersomnia also causes fatigue, even if a person with depression
is getting
enough sleep, they may not wake up feeling refreshed because the quality of sleep
is often
lower than that experienced by a person who does not have depression (Barhum,
2018).
2. Self-harming behaviors
3. Suicide
Suicide is one of the leading cause of death among young people and
commonly,
depression causes suicide. Depression is a temporary state or problem that can be
solved,
but a depressed person thinks that the only way to end depression is death which is
a
permanent that’s why they commit suicide.
b. Talking about death or suicide - this may be a direct statement, such as “I wish
I was
dead”, but often depressed people will talk about the subject indirectly, using
phrases like, “I
think dead people must be happier than us”, or “wouldn't it be nice to go to sleep
and never
wake up”;
d. A sudden lifting of mood - this could mean that a person has decided to commit
suicide
and feels better because of this decision.
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Table 2. Mental Health Among High School Students Aged 13-15 Years Old GSHS
Philippines, 2003-2015
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Figure 1. Infographic Showing the Statistics of the Mental Health of Filipinos
(ABS-
CBN Investigative Research Group, 2015)
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Figure 2. Infographic showing the statistics of the mental health of Teenage
Filipinos
(ABS-CBN Investigative Research Group, 2015)
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Ways to Cope Up with Depression
Years have passed since Joey de Leon made his controversial remark on
depression
while hosting the noontime show Eat Bulaga. “‘Yung depression, gawa-gawa lang ng
mga tao
yan. Gawa nila sa sarili nila (Depression is just made up by people),” De Leon
said. Depression
is highly stigmatized in ways like this despite its high prevalence rates. Most of
the time, this
outlook is caused by a lack of information. Know the basics about it —
the signs,
symptoms,
causes, and treatment.
2. Be willing to listen.
You are not your friend’s therapist. At times, the best help you can give is
to be there
to listen without judgement. Depression is a clinical illness, and telling someone
to “just snap
out of it” is problematic. According to Brehm (2016), a mental health advocate on
The
Huffington Post, writes:
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3. Extend a helping hand.
While reaching out to someone with depression, stay on track with your own
life.
Practice self-care daily
— there is no shame putting your needs first. If the
pressure of trying
to help builds up on you, seek support from others as well. Self-care can be as
simple as
taking time to rest, unplug or de-clutter. Building new habits like writing in a
journal or
sleeping at least seven hours every night can help greatly in the long run.
Whatever happens,
do not give up in helping another with depression. Continue advocating for the good
of
mental health. Keep educating others to beat the stigma and misconceptions
surrounding
mental illness. Now is always a good time to reach out. Give more hugs. Stay in
touch. Honor
their emotions. Remind them that they are not alone.
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Figure 3. Schematic Diagram Showing the Factors, Effects, and Ways to Cope up with
Teenage Depression (Objectives of the Study)
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CONCLUSION
Based on the information gathered and stated above in this study, the
researchers
conclude that the three objectives of this study namely: factors that cause
depression, its
effects and the ways to cope up with depression are met and attained. To conclude,
depression is an awful disease that must come to an end. Moreover, it affects many
teenagers.
Depression has numerous symptoms, these symptoms should be noticed as soon as they
show and teenagers should seek immediate help to prevent depression. Teenagers, who
have
an ambition to cease depression, should consider the presented solution since it
will help in
curing them. Teens should comprehend that depression is a mental disorder that
might ruin
their lives forever. Therefore, they should implement the given solution in order
to diminish
depression’s negative effects. Adolescents should seek treatments because it will
definitely
help them heal. However, awareness should be increased on all social levels to
enlighten
teenagers who suffer from depression. Depression is a severe problem that should be
immediately addressed.
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IMPLICATION
RECOMMENDATION
On the bases of the findings and conclusion of the study, the following
recommendations are advised:
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