Teen depression

By: Chelsea Holman

Chelsea Holman
Mr. Leidecker
5/5/16
3rd hour
According the nation institute of mental health more than half of Americas teens have
suffered from at least one major depressive episode. Depression is described as despondency and
dejection, marked by sadness, inactivity, difficulty with thinking and concentration, significant
increase or decrease in appetite. Teen depression impacts todays society because almost 70% of
all teens who suffer from depression face future problems due to lack of seeking help.
Depression costs about 44 billion dollars on the economy each year. A ripple down effect could
also be a result of teen depression and could lead to suicide pacts.
Resilience the ability of a substance or object to spring back into shape and recover
quickly from difficulties. Psychologist, Peter Kramer for example, states that happiness isnt the
opposite of depression resilience is. He agrees that people distinguish themselves based on
their ability to get back up after a fall or failure. Additionally, research shows that depression is a
psychological issue that causes the brains parts to shrink, atrophy- this occurs in the
hippocampus. To summarize, opponents of depression believe that it is simply how you deal with
failure or obstacles that can make or break someone. Although some believe that depression is a
choice, actually it is a psychological disorder, dangerous, and manipulative.
Initially, depression is manipulative and can have lasting effects on others due to a
ripple-down effect. For instance, major depressive disorders affect almost 14.8 million
Americans teens/ 6.7% of us take population. Suicide is the third leading cause of death for

people between ages 10 and 24. Just being around someone with a cognitive vulnerability to
depression has a cognitive effect where vulnerability to depression can rub off and make one
more person likely to develop depressive symptoms themselves. Researchers at NDU recruited
100 pairs of roommates the researchers asked the roommates to complete measures of
vulnerability the more someone increased cognitive vulnerability the school year, the more
likely they were to develop symptoms of depression in response to stressful life exists. As many
as one in 33 children and 8 adolescents have clinical depression. This information implies that
depression not only affects then teen that has it, but in a way, is contagious to those around that
teen, causing a stand of teens with depression. In summation, depression affects society as a
whole because more and more of the population is getting affected by it due to being around
depression-like symptoms.
Furthermore, research shows that teen depression is a psychological disorder. To
illustrate, depression is a mood disorder that is caused by activities in the limbic structure of the
brain, any disturbances affect mood and behavior. In addition, researchers believe that brain
chemicals, nerve cell connections, nerve cell growth, and the functioning of the nerve circuits
have a major impact on depression. Research shows that the hippocampus is 9% - 13% smaller
in depressed women compared with those who arent depressed. Obviously, due to a change in
the limbic structure of the brain and the hippocampus, depression isnt just overwhelming
sadness for teens, but a mental disorder. As a result, depression in teens is a big deal in society
because of the disruption in brain functions.
Ultimately, teen depression is dangerous because it can lead to suicide attempts in our
society. Depression is the cause of 2/3 of the 30,000 reported suicides each year. Untreated
depression is the number one risk for suicide among youth. Depression suicide is the third

leading cause of death in 10 - 14 years olds. Nearly two out of three people suffering with
depression dont seek or receive proper treatment, leading to suicidal thoughts. These statistics
show that depression is a serious problem with serious consequences. Therefore, depression in
teens is a serious issue because it is dangerous and could lead to potential suicide.
Teen depression is a problem in society because it is a mental disorder, dangerous, and
manipulative. Depression is dangerous and can lead to suicide pacts or suicide, disrupting our
society. Depression can be caught by paying attention to loved ones and seeking help if needed.

Works cited
http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/conditions/depression-teens
http://www.healthline.com/health/adolescent-depression
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/teen-depression/home/ovc-20164553
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/teen-depression/index.shtml