The week of May 6 –12 marked National Suicide Awareness Week, and May 6 was also Childhood Depression Awareness Day. Although we tend to think of childhood as a happy time, and teens are often told that they should be enjoying “the best years of their lives,” the fact of the matter is that childhood is not always a happy period, and, to quote Dickens, the teenage years can be “the best of times” and “the worst of times.”
While adult depression has long been an identified illness, the recognition of childhood depression as a distinct disorder in its own right is a fairly recent development. This condition affects 2 to 3 million young people annually, yet it is often misdiagnosed, ignored, or minimized as “the blues” or normal hormonal mood swings associated with adolescence. But childhood depression is more than just “the blues,” it is a medical illness experienced by 5 out of every 100 children, and studies indicate 10 to 15% of all young people in this country display some symptoms of depression. The rate of depression among adolescents is similar to that of depression in adults, and may be as high as 1 in 8. Signs of depression in children and adolescents include
n Missed school or poor school performance
n Changes in eating and sleeping habits
n Withdrawal from friends and activities once enjoyed
n Persistent sadness and hopelessness
n Problems with authority
n Indecision, lack of concentration, or forgetfulness
n Overreaction to criticism
n Frequent physical complaints, such as headache and stomachache
n Anger and rage
n Lack of enthusiasm, low energy or motivation
n Drug and/or alcohol abuse
n Thoughts of death or suicide
These symptoms may alternate with periods of extreme silliness or cheerfulness, increased social interaction, over-confidence, high energy and racing thoughts. Depressed young people can be impulsive, explosive, and unpredictable. Younger children may be agitated, full of fears and anxiety, and have physical complaints. Adolescents are more likely to be argumentative, anti-social, and irritable.
Untreated depression can become severe, leading to suicide. Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among college students, the 3rd leading cause of death among 15-24 year olds, and the 4th leading cause of death among 10-14 year olds. The suicide rate has doubled within the 10-14 year old group during the past 15 years, and has increased over 200% for all adolescents over the last decade.
Suicidal acts are often associated with a crisis in the teenager’s life, many times occurring during a time of general depression. While the triggering event may seem insignificant to others, it is important to realize that the event is of major significance to the young person. Further, when a suicide attempt is perceived as a “minor” ploy to get attention or to be dramatic, there is an increased risk that the young person will try again, perhaps meeting with success in a subsequent attempt.
Two of the myths associated with suicide that are most prevalent need to be debunked. The first, that people who talk about suicide seldom carry out their threat, is untrue. The reality is that 8 out of 10 successful suicides had communicated their intention before acting. The second false belief is that if suicide is talked about openly, a person is more likely to kill him/herself. The fact is that an open discussion promotes the idea that someone is taking the person seriously and cares about him or her, and wants to help.
In addition to demonstrating any of the symptoms of depression previously mentioned, parents should be mindful of certain behaviors that might indicate their teen is contemplating suicide. These include
n Not tolerating praise or rewards
n Violent actions, rebellious behavior, or running away
n Marked personality change
n Unusual neglect of personal appearance
n Persistent boredom
n Complaining of being a bad person or feeling “rotten inside”
n Giving verbal hints (e.g. “Nothing matters,” ”I won’t be a problem much longer,” “You’re not responsible for anything I might do,” etc.)
n Putting affairs in order, such as giving away prized possessions, cleaning his or her room, throwing away important belongings.
n Becoming suddenly cheerful after a period of depression.
It is important that parents, teachers, and anyone working with young people learn to recognize the signs of depression and suicidal thought. Both depression and suicidal feelings are treatable disorders, and the earlier the intervention, the greater the prognosis for long-term mental health. Treatment may consist of therapy with or without medication.
Parents who suspect their child may be depressed or suicidal can obtain more information and referrals by calling the Mental Health Association of Connecticut at 842-1501, extension 15, or by dialing Infoline at 211.