What is Adolescent Depression?
Depression in asolescents is defined as an illness when the feelings of depression persist and interfere with a child or adolescents ability to function. Since this time period is marked by hormonal and growth changes, many symptoms may be overlooked. Depression is usually diagnosed when the child is experiencing a cluster of the symptoms consistently for more than two weeks. The behavior of a depressed child or teenager is different from the behavior of a depressed adult, so it is important for parents to be aware of the signs and symptoms associated with this disease. The good news is, this is a treatable illness.
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Adolescent Depression Facts and StatisticsBrown University reported in 2002 that many parents simply do not recognize the symptoms of depression in their adolescent children. They found that even parents who have good communication with their children do not necessarily realize it when a child is depressed.
Between 10 to 15 percent of teenagers have some symptoms of teen depression at any one time. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people ages 15 to 24, and is the sixth leading cause of death among children ages 5-14. By 14 years of age, depressive disorders are more than twice as common in girls as in boys. More than 70 percent of children and adolescents with depressive disorders or other serious mood disorders do not receive appropriate diagnosis and treatment
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