Depression is a major factor in the
lives of our youth and young adults ages 10 to 24. In
Broward County, the youngest child identified by the
medical examiner to die of suicide due to depression
was only 9 years of age. Every 43 seconds a teen in the
USA age 15 to 18 has either planned a suicide or
attempted a suicide due to feelings of helplessness and
hopelessness.
Why are our children having such a
hard time living depression free in today's society?
What are the stresses that lead them to the feelings of
alienation, helplessness and hopelessness?
Some of today's stresses effecting
our youth include the following: high performance
standards, peer pressures, cultural demands, family
problems, lack of extended family support, over
scheduling and the need to have instant gratification.
All of these stresses and many more are possible causes
that add to the possibility of depression in the youth
of our nation.
High performance standards, such as
those relating to FCATS and other exams, sports and
other after school activities, parental or other adult
expectations, needed community service requirements, and
tougher college entrance requirements are just some of
the causes which produce feelings of performance anxiety
and depression. We need to give our children a sense of
self that relates to their self worth and individuality.
High standards that we must meet are not only met by
meeting the expectations of others but also by those set
by ourselves.
Peer pressures such as social status,
drugs, gangs, bullying, and sexual pressures are
stresses that can lead to all kinds of aberrant
behaviors. Behaviors such as cutting oneself, criminal
behaviors, drug or alcohol use, sexual promiscuousness,
eating disorders or destructive acts due to lack of
anger control that injure themselves and/or others.
Drug and alcohol usage is often a form of self
medication to help escape the underlying feelings of
depression. These are all possible behaviors that can
lead to feelings of overwhelming anxiety, helplessness,
hopelessness, alienation and ultimately desperation
resulting in self harm. Today our teens are functioning
or not functioning under the pressure of serious
stressors that parents, teachers, counselors, doctors
and coaches have to be aware of and explore as possible
signs of a serious state of depression. All adults and
peers need to understand the effects and the resulting
problems that these stresses produce. All family members
need to make themselves aware of the stresses in each
others lives and reach out to each other to help
recognize the signs and symptoms of depression. If your
child displays helplessness and hopelessness, go to the
FISP website at
www.fisponline.org and see if they meet three of the
20 signs of depression which can lead to possible
suicidal thoughts. If these feelings last more than two
weeks, all day every day then your child may have
clinical depression and it is time to seek help. Get
help early and avoid years of suffering for your child
and all those who know and love them.
Jackie Rosen is the Executive
Director/CEO of the Florida Initiative for Suicide
Prevention, Inc. - FISP
