Depression has been around for a longer period of time than we can imagine. Depression has been considered to be the major psychiatric disease of the 20th century, affecting approximately eight million people in North America (http://www. ndmda. org). It is a matter of whether it is diagnosed and treated or left alone. This is a problem that can affect everyone whether they themselves are diagnosed or simply by knowing someone with depression. People with psychiatric illnesses are twenty times more likely to die from accidents or suicide than people without psychiatric disorders (http://www. i. org). Major depression, including bipolar affective disorder, often appears for the first time during teenage years, and early recognition of these conditions will have profound effects on later morbidity and mortality. Is depression in adolescents a significant problem? Well, the suicide rate for adolescents has increased more than 200% over the last decade (http://www. ndmda. org). Adolescent suicide is now responsible for more deaths in youths aged fifteen to nineteen than cardiovascular disease or cancer.
Recent studies have shown that greater than twenty percent of adolescents in the general population have emotional problems and one-third of adolescents attending psychiatric clinics suffer from depression. Despite this, depression in this age group is greatly under diagnosed, leading to serious difficulties in school, work, and personal adjustment, which often continue into adulthood. Depression presents in adolescents with essentially the same symptoms as in adults; however, some clinical shrewdness may be required to translate the teenagers? ptoms into adult terms. Wearing black clothes, writing poetry with morbid themes, or listening to certain types of music may exemplify sadness. Sleep disturbance may manifest as all-night television watching, difficulty in getting up for school, or sleeping during the day. Missed classes reflect lack of motivation and lowered energy level. A drop in grade averages can be equated with loss of concentration and slowed thinking. Boredom may be a synonym for feeling depressed. Loss of appetite may become anorexia or bulimia.
Adolescent depression may also present primarily as a behavior or conduct disorder, substance or alcohol abuse or as family turmoil and rebellion with no obvious symptoms reminiscent of depression (http://www. apa. org). I chose this topic because it occurs much too often. I witness it myself. Of my friends, whom I still have from high school, three of them were diagnosed. I did not find it odd that they all came from unstable families. I definitely think that this factor may influence depression because I know for a fact that they feel abandoned by one or both parents.
It is horrible to think, but depression is a popular problem. Another reason as to why I chose this topic is because as often as it occurs, it needs more attention. Teachers, parents, family, and friends need to be aware of the warning signs so that the problem can be dealt with before it progresses. I chose East Stroudsburg high school South because it was easier for me if I did it in East Stroudsburg rather than driving home to Lancaster. Although, I was interested in seeing the school program and the facility itself because my high school was all I? d ever known.
Sometimes I guess I thought other high schools would be like mine. It is strange; it is odd to think that I took my high school for granted. I went about finding a person in the school by simply making a telephone call. I spoke to one of the secretaries of the guidance office and set up an appointment with Mrs. Keglovits for Wednesday, November 28th at 8:30AM. The woman I interviewed was Linda Keglovits. She is a guidance counselor at East Stroudsburg Senior high school located on 279 North Courtland Street, East Stroudsburg, PA, 18301. Mrs. Keglovits? one number is (570) 424-8877 and her fax number is (570) 420-8353. Her responsibilities are to help students with academic problems, choosing colleges and careers, personal problems, and so on and so forth. The student may be referred by the teacher to Mrs. Keglovits. By talking with the student it enables her to determine easier whether it is depression or not. When coming to a conclusion there are many avenues, which may be chosen. This is difficult to actually follow the plan of action because families have to agree to everything, including medication.
Sometimes families do not follow through with the medication making it very hard for the child to receive help. Doctors are obviously also a factor. Sometimes doctors do not monitor dosage, making it harder for recovery. The dosages should be evaluated and checked on a regular basis. Also included in the plan of action, a school counselor may be brought in from the Intermediate unit. The school has an official policy of confidentiality. Students feel more at ease sharing their thoughts when they know it is confidential. The school provides special programs.
With the diagnosis of depression there is a partial hospitalization program, which consists of classes with no more than eight students to a class. This is provided through Special education services. Here they will work on different methods to change thinking, behavior, and promote positive thinking and positive ways. Other agencies or organizations involved are support groups through Student Assistance. The funding for the programs comes from partially the school and partially MH/MR. So, how serious is the problem according to my contact?
Linda Keglovits thinks that the problem is abundant but actually finding students that want help is hard and time consuming. On the other hand, if the student wants help, the family has to be notified and their permission is required. Sometimes parents are in denial that their son or daughter could ever be suffering from depression and they just blame it on laziness or some other easy explanation. What can be done for victims of depression is being done but sometimes funding can be an issue. Everyday they are thinking of new ways and ideas for this popular problem. The most important question in my opinion that I asked her was, ?
Why do you think depression is such a common problem among all ages?? Her answer seemed reasonable and intelligent. She said that some of today? s youth are unsure what they? re working for. Our economy is not the greatest right now so they lost motivation and purpose. Adolescence is also a time of growing and changing and some might get lost in the shuffle. Parents are also a factor in the problem. Sometimes there is an absence of parents and then the attention is drawn away from the child. They feel like there is no one to confide in or talk to but their own friends. They feel lonely.
I also asked about the reactions to the September 11th tragedy. She said that she saw that young people took safety for granted. They felt violated. They were affected as much as everyone else in the United States was, shocked, horrified, angry, and sad all at the same time. The most important thing that I learned from doing this project is that today? s youth needs more attention and caring then they are receiving. The problem needs to be identified and taken care of before it progresses into adulthood. Simply relaying information about history, science, etc. should not be enough.
Life should be discussed, emotions should be discussed, and personal achievements should be enforced. This will affect my professional responsibilities as being a psychologist. By doing this project, it made me more interested in adolescence. Maybe that is where my path will lead. My suggestions for approaching the problem are to really get involved with the students. Teachers should interact with their students and try to get to know them. Teachers should become friends with their students while still maintaining an authority figure. This will be the first intervention.
By doing this it will make the search for depressed students easier. The second is to recommend the student to guidance and let the course take action. Although, the student should not feel like they are ? weeded out? from the group. The teacher should still treat them the same and not exclude them from activities. Also, the student should be encouraged to get help. They should not feel forced to do something. Instead, they should be educated on why they should. Hopefully, this will resolve and bring depression to an end so that we can all live our lives to the fullest.
