Does Teen Depression Therapy Really Help?

TEEN SUICIDE IS ON THE RISE

Colorado Springs has seen an alarming number of teen suicides in 2017. It is a terrible tragedy for even one young person to end their life.  As a parent of an adolescent, it is devastating and terrifying to consider the frequency with which this is happening in Colorado Springs and across the nation. Appropriately so, there has been an increase in suicide prevention education sponsered by our schools, which has opened up a wonderful dialogue about mental health concerns and preventative treatment. Therapy for anxiety gives you an opportunity to examine your worry in a way that helps you feel normal about it. You tell your therapist what you’re upset about. Depression Therapy Colorado Springs helps you to get rid of addiction and teaches you methods for feeling more in control of your feelings and your life. This spring, the hit Netflix show 13 Reasons Why, a fictional show about a high school sophomore who commits suicide, stirred up some emotions and brought the topic back into the limelight. With the school year now in full swing, my mind is again contemplating the struggles that teens face at a time in their development when they may not be well equipped to cope with these challenges in a healthy way.

THE LINK BETWEEN SUICIDE AND DEPRESSION

While the risk factors for suicide vary, as a counselor I have never known anyone, adult or adolescent, that has contemplated suicide who is not also dealing with depression. 

DEPRESSION IS REAL

Depression is not simply having the “blues” or being negative. It is a serious mental illnesss and in severe cases can result in tragedy. Depressive symptoms can be hard to recognize in teens that are already going through a lot of changes developmentally. It can be easy to dismiss warning signs of depression as just part of growing up or a phase that will go away. While we know that depression can manifest itself in teens differently, it can have a heavy impact on mental development, affecting a teen’s ability to maintain friendships with others and be successful in school. A teen suffering with depression may get angry and irritated easily, and they may lose enthusiasm and interest in everything. It can also diminish their self-confidence and negatively affect how they perceive themselves. There are many who also reportphysical discomforts such as headaches and stomach aches. Some may even develop stark changes in their eating and sleeping habits. Suicidal thoughts and hopelessness are commonly reported.

TEEN DEPRESSION IS UNDERTREATED!

Over the last 10 years there has been a 37% increase in teen depression, with girls being the most at risk.Despite this huge increase in teen depression, there has not been a corresponding increase in mental health treatment! This means there is a growing number of adolescents who are not receiving the help they so desperately need. To address this issue, the American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends all young people between the ages of 11 and 21 receive depression screening.

THE GOOD NEWS!

The good news is this condition is treatable. There is strong therapeutic evidence that supports the effficacy of therapeutic treatment of teen depression, as well as other mental health concerns. Psychotherapy has been found to be as effective as medication and is the recommended intervention for teen depression. Therapist Colorado Springs can help teens discover new tools to manage their current symptoms, resolve underlying issues that support depressive symptomology, and increase their resiliency to ward off recurring episodes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), along with good ol’ one-on-one counseling can work wonders for teen depression and parents’ peace of mind. I know we all hope Colorado Springs will not lose one more young person’s life!