Teenage Depression
Teen Depression has spread majorly throughout the United States within the last few years. There are many different treatments for depression, but lately one in particular has been standing out the most. Research shows, that antidepressants, medication prescribed by a professional to treat depression, have been ineffective and show an increase in teen suicide for the teens who take them. Antidepressants are dangerous to teenagers, and they should not be distributed among teens unless they are proven to be completely effective to depression.
Many people believe that antidepressants aren’t fixing this huge problem with teens in America. People think that doctors are only using antidepressants to speed up the diagnoses and recovery process. Also, research and real-life observations show that antidepressants aren’t always effective on teens. "Right after starting an antidepressant, some kids do become more anxious or restless and a few may have an increase in suicidal thoughts"(Bostic). Health-care professionals believe that anti-depressants give a negative effect, because the brain of a teenager isn't fully developed yet. This can result in major depression increase and an increase in the rate of suicide.
Observations and research shows that antidepressants make depressed teens more depressed or even go to the extent of taking their own life. "According to FDA data, a young person suffering from depression is 15% more likely to commit suicide than peers not suffering from depression"(Docksai). Some doctors warn that antidepressants will not only affect your child now, but also give an effect later in life. The teen suicide rate has tripled since the 1960's, and many of those teens either had or were treated for depression. Since the huge increase in the teen suicide rate, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had to add a public warning label on all antidepressants, warning the public that these antidepressants might trigger or increase suicidal thoughts. This caused many parents and doctors to stop prescribing or giving their patients and children antidepressants, and as a result they had to resort to a new way of treating depression.
Some doctors, parents, and patients think that the only way to treat teen depression the best is to take antidepressants. But, a survey shows that counseling is the top treatment recommended for depressed children. Teens could be seen once a week for parental bonding, therapy, or anything else they need help coping with instead of taking a pill. Also, by getting the depressed teen involved into something they love, it will ease the teen's mind and help them with their depression. "The symptoms of childhood depression are often different than those of adults. As a result, childhood depression was- and continues to be- misdiagnosed” (Youth Depression). This statement proves that the doctors that are prescribing antidepressants to teens are treating them like they are a depressed ADULT, which says even if antidepressants work great for adults, it doesn’t mean it’s the best decision for depressed teens.
Even though antidepressants have many down sides, many people still support them. Some doctors and parents feel as if antidepressants have been a “life savior” for their patients and children (Youth Depression). Antidepressants help families give their depressed children treatment if they aren’t financially stable enough to afford to see a therapist. But, Health care professionals are realizing that there is a huge spike in the amount of teenagers taking antidepressants that have not been approved for teenage use. Most antidepressants for teens have not been tested on people under the age of 16. Yet, some doctors still support them.
After the FDA established a warning label on depressants, doctors spoke publicly to patients and parents to inform them that antidepressants are completely harmless, if prescribed the right amount. Even after doctors went public, the FDA still went to the extent of "black-boxing," or stating all the warnings and symptoms, on the antidepressant labeling to show the public that the FDA is concerned about the people. Due to all the warning labels, parents finally refused to give their children antidepressants, but they also stopped getting them treated for their depression all together. “Approximately half of the teenagers with untreated depression may attempt suicide, which remains the third-leading cause of death in this age group” (Bostic). At this time, antidepressants made life harder for all the depressed teens in America, who weren’t receiving treatment at all, because of a label for a dangerous product.
As shown, antidepressants are extremely unhealthy for depressed teenagers. They don’t help teens with depression, and usually, they make teens more depressed. Other treatments are proven to be effective, and truly do help depressed teens with everyday life. Even though antidepressants are covered in warning labels and cautions, there are many people who still support them today. But, that doesn’t make them the right choice for these helpless teens. Why take a chance of harming depressed teen by giving them antidepressants? Get them REAL help, through therapy or getting them involved with an after- school activity. Teen Depression is still a major issue in America, but many professionals and parents are looking for new ways to help their children and patients, instead of using antidepressants.
Works Cited:
Bostic, Jeff Q., and Craig C.Miller. “When Should You Worry?” Periodicals. Newsweek. Web.
28 Sept. 2010. <http://periodicals.grolier.com/php/ebsco/ebsco-go2.php?product=go2-
passport&editfield1=teen AND depression&StartRecNo=6&NoRec=1>.
Docksai, Rick. "Youth Depression and Suicide." Futurist Vol. 43, No. 1. Jan/Feb 2009: 16-
17. SIRS Researcher. Web. 24 Sep 2010.
"Youth Depression." Issues & Controversies On File: n. pag. Issues & Controversies. Facts On
