Adolescence should be the purest and happiest period in life, but according to the data of the “Report on the Development of Chinese National Mental Health (2019-2020)”, in 2020, the detection rate of depression among Chinese adolescents was 24.6%. Among them, mild depression was 17.2%, and severe depression was 7.4%.
In addition, according to the data of the “Chinese Adolescent Mental Disorder Epidemiological Survey”, the prevalence rate of mental disorders in adolescents and children nationwide is 17.5%.
Behind these cruel figures is the grim fact that we have to face up to: Chinese teenagers are experiencing a “psychological crisis” .
Especially as the weather gradually turns cooler and autumn is the peak period for the outbreak of “seasonal depression” , teenagers should pay more attention to their mental health.
01
Adolescent depression is grossly underestimated
Unlike adults, adolescents’ characteristics of adolescence make depression more harmful to teens.
Adolescent depression affects not only emotions. During adolescence, brain emotions and reward neural circuits and positive emotions develop and mature rapidly during this period. Therefore, depression changes children’s cognition and behavior of thinking. The child’s future individual development has serious adverse effects.
According to McLeod, Horwood, and Fergusson (2016), the higher the severity of depression in adolescents:
1. Higher prevalence of mental health problems in adulthood
2. Higher risk of adverse relationships
3. Lower academic achievement or financial status
02
Depression in adolescents
We should not only pay attention to the harm of adolescent depression, but also pay attention to the diagnosis of adolescent depression.
Because adolescent depression is often more insidious, it is difficult to identify adolescent depression, and the diagnosis and treatment rates are relatively low, causing greater harm to children.
So, what are the symptoms of teenage depression?
1. Often feel lost, depressed or angry, and some teenagers also play truancy, run away from home, etc.;
2. Low self-esteem, always feel bad, feel useless, and easily oversensitive to the evaluation of others;
3. Insomnia or excessive sleep, accompanied by nightmares;
4. Physical fatigue and loss of interest in many things;
5. Slow thinking, memory decline, decreased concentration, often distracted in class, and reduced efficiency;
6. Frequent headaches or physical pains, but no organic problems can be detected by medical examinations;
7. Thoughts and behaviors of self-mutilation or suicide, such as gestures with a pen or knife on the wrist;
……
03
Adolescent Depression Prevention and Coping
·Adolescent individuals
Teenagers can try some exercise, because exercise can stimulate the brain to release dopamine and adrenaline, helping us to get out of low mood as soon as possible.
At the same time, teenagers should try their best to maintain a happy state of mind and divert their attention from negative emotions. For example, they can cultivate some hobbies and learn to relax their lives.
If you find yourself with depression, you must strengthen communication with your parents in time to prevent depression from becoming more serious depression.
·Parents
Studies have found that children are significantly less likely to develop depression if they live in a functioning family.
“Sound” here means that parents and children can talk as equals.
Therefore, parents must learn to listen to their children’s thoughts and allow them to express their emotions freely. Once they find something wrong, they can guide their children back to the right track in time.
In addition, if your child is already depressed , you can seek the help of a professional psychological counselor, who can effectively adjust your child’s mood and avoid developing more serious depression.
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If you are still unsure whether your child needs counseling or your child is struggling with depression at the moment, you can seek the help of a professional counselor.
change from now on.