Teens Are Depressed Now More Than Ever

The reasons could be listed for hours.  I was depressed as a teen.  I knew and know many people who were depressed as teens.  What'd be easier to say is that I have met very few people (where the topic of depression and high school was brought up, obviously) who weren't depressed in high school. 

Food, Parents and our parenting styles, war, financial difficulty,  the mental issues that are rising every year that could effect depression, crime rates rising...  Overall, our entire world is rather depressing right now.

I would agree that there are many factors when you think about the rise in depression.  I think many the parents are depressed given the economy, and kids feel that and worry about it.  Teens are more isolated than ever, although they're texting away and on all kinds of websites - there's nothing like personal interaction and when they don't have it, they suffer.  And then we have an expectation in our society that people should always be happy, and when we're not, rather than wait it out or do something positive that'll make us feel good, we declare that we're depressed.  Clinical depression is really different than feeling a little down, and we should be aware of the difference.  Also agree that media plays an important role in how we think of ourselves and others, and sometimes it's very destructive.

Marcia

Author:  Strained Relations: Help for Struggling Parents of Troubled Teens 
Blog:  http://strainedrelations.wordpress.com

I am a SAHM, I am dealing with an 11 yr old that is anxious, depressed, a complete worrier. How can I learn to help my child without medications. If it comes down to it, we may seek medical help. I have talked to the Principal at her school and her new dr. She is displaying a lot of the symptoms of depressions. The worse is the stomach aches and not wanting to be at school. I ask her and she says she is so alone and doesn't have any friends. I told her she has to interact with other kids to have friends. So, I think some of it could be social anxiety. How can I build up her confidence?

This is a comment for night.magic, but applies to others, too.  You can't make your child feel confident, but you can put him/her in situations where they can achieve or contribute or help others.

Confidence and good self-esteem are by-products of feeling you are able to accomplish something.  Remember how proud a little one is when he or she can "do it all by myself"? 

Find opportunities for your child to grow and do things on her own and make new friends.  Join a group like Girl Scouts, join a club at school, find a sport or interest where your child can develop talents and skills.  Volunteer to help at a soup kitchen - that puts a lot in perspective.

I hope these suggestions are helpful.

Marcia

Author:  Strained Relations: Help for Struggling Parents of Troubled Teens 
Blog:  http://strainedrelations.wordpress.com/

i think a lot of it has to do with the fact that parents don't keep good relationships with their children...teens don't want to talk to their parents about issues because they think their parents will judge them...i had depression as a teenager, pretty severely...i never wanted to talk to my mother about it because she would have said "oh, get over it" which was not what i wanted to hear

both the parents and society are to blame

So many reasons.

 - The economy and cost of living has forced most parents out of the home, often from birth onward.
 - It's 'cool' these days to have a mental illness. A lot of teens want to be diagnosed, because they think it makes them unique. It's like badges of honor, the more diagnoses you have, the cooler you are. It's very odd but it really is the new fad. Smoking was so 90s, now it's all about having something like "Oppositional Defiant Disorder" or "Aspergers".
 - Businesses have removed most of the fun activities in favor of using the land for condos and other developments. How many cities still have bowling alleys? Roller-skating rinks? Arcades? There really isn't that much for teens to do in a lot of cities anymore aside from drugs, drinking and such and those and boredom does tend to lead to depression.
 - There seems to be a lashback against careers. I've noticed a lot of the generation just below mine (those now teens) seem to just want to be homemakers again. It's scary to constantly hear about the massive costs of educations and difficulties of the career ladder but the economy is making there little choice but to face those fears and get that degree and work, even if you don't want to, because so few can afford to stay home on a one-person salary anymore. So it's hard to have those sorts of dreams crushed and only have a career you hate to look forward to in your adult years.