The Power of Prevention

The American Psychology Association's journal publication recently published an article on prevention and the effectiveness of prevention efforts on adolescents. According to a recent study put out by the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council, programs and interventions being used to prevent mental, emotional and behavioral disorders in adolescents have proven to be widely effective. These results are significant and important because they reinforce the need and purpose of prevention education, whether in the school system, non-profit sector, or in a counseling setting. When it comes to eating disorders (as well as depression, mood disorders, substance abuse, anxiety, etc), taking preventative measures and efforts is essential.

For more information on this report, follow this link.

The Link Between Depression and Acne in Teens

A recent article in Time magazine, entitled Teen Acne and Depression: Can Mood Worsen Skin?, explores the relationship between a teenager's well-being/mood, and his or her skin. I have heard often and from many different people that stress and depression cause acne, but I have rarely seen articles or studies which highlight the relationship. While more research must be done, this article may be an interesting read for those of you who have teenagers with acne and/or depression, OR for those of you who may have once been a depressed teen, OR if you are a teenager currently experiencing depression or acne.

A Follow-Up to Bullying

I recently wrote a post on bullying at school, in which I included a link to an article on increased efforts to understand and prevent bullying at schools. This article can be found here. I wanted to post a follow-up because I have been coming across more articles on bullying since then that are interesting and informative! I wanted to pass them on. The first one is a brief article which highlights a few statistics, as well as a study on bullying that was recently completed in Finland. The study concluded that young people who are bullied typically experience psychiatric problems later in life. To read this brief article, follow this link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20090916/hl_hsn/scarsofbullyinglinger.

The second article, which can be accessed here,

http://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/schooling/bullying/the_wounded_spirit.aspx, is an article from Focus on the Family that explores the lasting effects of bullying on adults. The last article is geared towards parents whose children are being bullied. It advocates being vigilant and aware of your child's emotional well-being, as bullying often results in varying degrees of depression. If your child or teenager is experiencing depression, it is wise to seek professional help, either through counseling or other avenues. Follow this link to read.

Teenagers and Depression

There was a study that was recently released that suggests teenagers who are depressed and do not receive help are at greater risk of developing serious mental illness later in life.  The implication is that teenagers experiencing depression greatly benefit from receiving treatment and face a reduced risk of developing more serious problems down the road. An article on BBC News that details this study can be found here.

In light of this news, it might be helpful to discuss the warning signs and symptoms of teenage depression, as it differs slightly in presentation from adult depression.  The following are symptoms to watch out for if you believe your teenager is depressed: 

**feelings of worthlessness                               

**tiredness, lack of energy, lethargic               

**sadness                                                              

**hopelessness                                                    

**frequent crying (more than is typical of your teen)

**losing interest/enjoyment in activities which use to be of interest/enjoyment

**social withdrawal (from friends and family members)

**changes in sleep habits and appetite

**difficulty with concentration

**suicidal thoughts or thoughts about dying

Here is a chart, courtesy of HelpGuide.org, which details the major differences between teenage and adult depression.  For more information on this topic, visit http://www.helpguide.org/mental/depression_teen.htm.       

The difference between teenage and adult depression

Depression in teens can look very different from depression in adults. The following symptoms of depression are more common in teenagers than in their adult counterparts:

• Irritable or angry mood – As noted above, irritability, rather than sadness, is often the predominant mood in depressed teens. A depressed teenager may be grumpy, hostile, easily frustrated, or prone to angry outbursts.
• Unexplained aches and pains - Depressed teens frequently complain about physical ailments such as headaches or stomachaches. If a thorough physical exam does not reveal a medical cause, these aches and pains may indicate depression.
• Extreme sensitivity to criticism - Depressed teens are plagued by feelings of worthlessness, making them extremely vulnerable to criticism, rejection, and failure. This is a particular problem for “over-achievers.”
• Withdrawing from some, but not all people - While adults tend to isolate themselves when depressed, teenagers usually keep up at least some friendships. However, teens with depression may socialize less than before, pull away from their parents, or start hanging out with a different crowd.

If you’re unsure if an adolescent in your life is depressed or just “being a teenager,” consider how long the symptoms have been present, how severe they are, and how different the teen is acting from his or her usual self. While some “growing pains” are to be expected as teenagers grapple with the challenges of growing up, dramatic, long-lasting changes in personality, mood, or behavior are red flags of a deeper problem (www.helpguide.org/mental/depression_teen.htm, 2009).

Bullying: A Resource for Parents

I work with a lot of teenagers, and many of them have experienced bullying in some form.  Whether it exists in the hallways at school, online (cyber-bullying) or elsewhere, this is a problem that is becoming more and more common.  Most parents struggle with knowing how to support and respond to their children when they are being bullied, and as a result, often feel confused and helpless. Follow the link below for an article that provides a bit of insight and that may help you or someone that you know who is dealing with bullies at school!

http://www.psychologymatters.org/bullying.html