Mental Health

In this article, Izzy talks about depression and how it affects teens.

Mental health: Depression

By: Izzy Westfall

Disclaimer: This article discusses sensitive information regarding mental health that some feel comfortable reading. Statements in this article may trigger those who are faced with similar challenges. However, the goal of this article is to bring awareness and educate our readers about anxiety disorders in teens and also help those who may be struggling with it.

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Last month may have been Mental Health Awareness Month, but the want to bring awareness to mental health does not stop there. Mental health is one of the most important challenges for humans and many people do not make it a priority. Teenagers especially try to hide and cover their mental health struggles. The second most common mental health disorder found in teens is Depression Disorder. This disorder affects many teens around the world. The Mayo Clinic says, “Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest…sometimes you may feel as if life isn't worth living. More than just a bout of the blues, depression isn't a weakness and you can't simply 'snap out' of it.” Depression is hard to deal with. Many teens struggle with it and many factors can cause it, such as lack of sleep, lack of friends, bad home life, or relationship struggles. It could even be in someone's genetics. Depressive disorder can cause suicidal thoughts, but there are resources available to help anyone at any time. Getting help when having depression disorder can allow people to get the comfort they need.

'Everyone's depression is different, depending on who a person is and what triggers their depression. There are plenty of different types of depression disorders, with some consisting of: major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, seasonal affective disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. These different types of depression disorders will also range from moderate to extreme or they may even just barely be present at all. All are valid, though each case may affect everyone differently. There are also many resources to help cope with depression disorder. The Cleveland Clinic states, “There are two main ways to treat depression in children: talk therapy and medication. Both of these treatments may work on their own but they seem to work better together.” Medication is not always the answer, as some Americans feel the need to ‘throw’ drugs at everything. With that being said, sometimes it is necessary to help individuals get better. It all depends on how serious and major one's depression is and what is causing it, asking, "What is causing this?" and "Can I get through this without medication?" Those answers will vary for each person.

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Making sure people who are struggling with their mental state do not feel alone is important. It is important to bring awareness to mental disorders, especially this one, because depression disorder is one of the most common disorders to cause suicide attempts. There are resources available 24/7, including a few places listed below. Lots of people have depression. It is not something to be ashamed of or be embarrassed about. It is important to be strong and get the help you need and to help teens and adults by bringing awareness to this mental health disorder and others.

Bringing awareness includes making sure people know what depression disorder is, what causes it, and its symptoms. For many humans, connecting their struggles to others who are struggling with the same battles is helpful. People search for support to validate their feelings, which is valid and should not embarrassing. People can’t control their feelings, but they can control their actions. Bringing awareness will hopefully help people understand what others experience.

RESOURCES for help:

Mark Johnston - GPHS Mental Health Therapist mjohnstun@grantspass.k12.or.us

Shani Hulst - GPHS Social and Emotional Counselor shulst@grantspass.k12.or.us

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255

Crisis Text Hotline US: Text HOME to 741741 to be connected with a crisis counselor

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