Sadness and Depression
A serious case of the blues?

By Dana Perry

Are you feeling down in the dumps? Your teen years are filled with many new and different experiences: from challenging schoolwork to learning to drive, to your first romance. If you find yourself worried about these experiences, you're not alone. Sixty-one percent of girls aged 12-17 say they worry "a lot" about getting along with their friends and doing well in school.¹ Approximately one-half are worried about how they look, and 37 percent worry about "fitting in."¹ Life comes complete with ups and downs, and an occasional sad-spell happens to most people at some point in their lives.

But there is a difference between a passing case of the blues and something more serious. Major depression is a medical illness that causes extended and extreme sadness. It has the following symptoms:^{2, 5}

1. Sad or bad-tempered mood you can't shake
2. A big change in sleeping habits and appetite
3. A major drop in energy
4. Difficulty paying attention in class or to schoolwork
5. Loss of interest in activities or sports you used to enjoy
6. Difficulty keeping friendships
7. Drop in self-esteem
8. Feelings of hopelessness, emptiness or worthlessness
9. Increased amount of headaches, stomachaches or physical pain
10. Frequent thoughts about death or suicide

Many of these symptoms contrast how a person acted before and after depression hit. These symptoms are often difficult for a depressed person to see and may be pointed out by a parent or friend.

Depression is Real
It is estimated that 9 percent of all adolescents ages 12-17 experienced a period of major depression,³ and as many as 15 percent are currently experiencing some symptoms of depression.⁴ Teenage girls are also at a higher risk than boys, as women are twice as likely to experience depression as men.⁵

People get depressed for many reasons. It can happen due to a number of life events, including death of a loved one, a big move or changing schools. Sometimes depression can happen with no specific "event" at all. Teens who have parents who are depressed are more likely to suffer from depression as well, as it can run in families.³ Scientists believe that depression can also be due to a chemical imbalance in a person’s fragile network of brain cells. Family life, school setting and stress may also play a factor.

Depression is Treatable
The good news is that depression is treatable and 80-90 percent of those treated return to their "normal selves" within a matter of time.³ Many treatments are available and include seeing a medical doctor or therapist and/or taking prescription medication. If you suspect yourself or a loved one may be depressed, tell someone, as untreated depression typically just gets worse and can possibly lead to suicide.³ If you feel comfortable, share your concerns with a close family member such as a parent or older sister. A school counselor, teacher, social worker, Girl Scout volunteer or other trusted adult may also be able to help you. Free hotlines and Web sites that may be helpful are listed below.

By phone:

• Youth America Hotline
  1-877-968-8454; 1-877-YOUTHLINE
• National Youth Crisis Hotline
  1-800-442-4673
• Covenant House Nineline
  1-800-999-9999

On the Web:

www.iemily.com
www.teenshealth.org
www.youngwomenshealth.org/depression.html

¹ The New Normal? What Girls Say About Healthy Living. 2006. Girl Scouts Research Institute. Girl Scouts USA
² The Depressed Child; www.aacap.org
³SAMHSA’s 2004 National Survey on Drug Use and Health; http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/2k5/youthDepression/youthDepression.cfm
⁴ SAMHSA, CMHS, 2003: Major depression in Children and Adolescents Fact Sheet; www.aacap.org/cs/root/resources_for_families
⁵ Major Depression: What is major depression?; www.nami.org

Dana Perry interned for GSUSA during summer 2007. She previously worked as an Outreach Specialist for high-risk youth at Girl Scouts - Pacific Peaks Council in DuPont, Wash.