Antidepressants for Teens To Be or Not To Be Essay

Even though antidepressants serve as a temporary relief for teens with depression, they should not be considered an effective treatment to cure depression due to the side effects, risk of addiction, and increase thoughts of suicide. â€Å"Teen depression is a serious condition that affects emotions, thoughts and behaviors. Issues such as peer pressure, academic expectations, and changing bodies can bring a lot of ups and downs for teens† (Mayo Clinic). Depression does not discriminate; no matter what race, gender, or religion, depression can turn a person’s life upside down if they do not handle it correctly. â€Å"Depression usually starts between the ages of fifteen and thirty† (WebMD). Teen depression may be more common among members of a family†¦show more content†¦Seasonal depression occurs only at a certain time of the year, usually winter, because the number of daylight hours is lower. Another form of depression is psychotic depression, which is w hen depression and hallucinations are experienced at the same time. They all have different symptoms and should be approached differently to receive the correct treatment. The controversy over the use of antidepressants in the treatment of children has received a large amount of attention in the past years. Everyone has his or her own opinion of antidepressants and how they work, but no one takes time to research the claims of the treatments. Antidepressants are medications to treat depression in children, teens, and adults. The dosage given should vary on the level of depression and the age of the patient. The side effects also vary depending on the patient. One source states that, â€Å"teenagers on antidepressants should be monitored for any sign that the depression is getting worse† (HelpGuide.Org). Many teens are depressed from causes of neglect. Some may feel that their parents are not around as much as they should be. Depressed teens should be watched closely and if th e parent or parents are not available to keep a close look the outcome of the teen may be in danger. If a parent pays more attention to their child, then they could intervene before the depression worsens. There is a possibility of prevention of theShow MoreRelatedTeenagers Are More Likely To Commit Suicide Than Adults1294 Words   |  6 Pagesschool students think of committing suicide; almost 10% try† (Cropper 112). This shocking statistic shows the high risk of suicide among teens, but what some might not know is that the most common form of treatment used to help teens suffering with depression is one that might also increase the risk of suicide and/or harmful actions to oneself. Tricyclic antidepressants such as Zoloft, Paxil, Celexa, and Lexapro are commonly prescribed to adolescents and young adults to relieve symptoms of depressionRead MoreTeen Depression : Is It Really Doing What It Should?1332 Words   |  6 Pagesprevalent in teens. According to teen depression s tatistics, around 20% of teens have or are currently experiencing depression symptoms. And that doesn’t include self- harm or suicide/attempted suicide. Because depression is becoming such a major issue, antidepressant prescription has skyrocketed; but is it really doing what it should? If antidepressant use is increasing, why are the numbers of depressed teens growing or remaining the same? I believe that though antidepressants can be helpfulRead MoreDoes Antidepressants Use in Teenagers Increase Suicide Rates?1039 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction Teen depression is a serious condition that can be a devastating problem for both the child and parent. It is a disorder that reduces their moods thus causing loss of interest in things they should enjoy and make them irritable. In this literature review we are going to examine the use of antidepressants to treat teen depression. It will also look at the risks of suicides increased as a result of taking antidepressants and the measures taken to reduce this problem. Can antidepressants useRead MoreAntidepressants : Harmful Or Helpful?1566 Words   |  7 PagesAntidepressants: Harmful or Helpful? In a world where the population struggles with worries of life, many men, women, and children struggle with depression; however, new studies are showing that treating the disorder with antidepressants can do more harm than good. In 1990, millions of people used Prozac, a SSRI (a type of antidepressant defined later) to treat their mental disorders (Kent). Now, with suicide the third leading cause of death among fifteen to twenty-four year olds, the numbers areRead MoreAn Essay on Teen Suicide798 Words   |  4 PagesTeen suicide My essay is on teen suicide there are a lot of suicides that happen in the U.S they are caused from being bullied also it can caused by being depressed. There is also a high increase of suicides for people who take antidepressants. All this information is true based on the sites below. 1) http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/health/September-October-08/Teen-Suicide-Rate-Worries-Mental-Health-Experts.html 2) http://articles.latimes.com/2013/oct/20/nation/la-na-nn-funeral-illinois-teen-suicide-bullying-20131020Read MoreTeen Depression Problem Solution Essay1542 Words   |  7 Pagesaccess to effective treatment [source: WHO]. Even though many people don’t realize it, there is an abhorrent problem with depression among teens in the United States. In fact, â€Å"11% of adolescents have a depressive disorder by age 18,† according to the National Institute of Mental Health’s website. This statistic may not seem like a lot, but it means that 11% of teens have a serious problem; they feel like this frequently, yet still go on, in most cases without treatment. Although feeling depressed happensRead MoreOveruse of Antidepressants Today and How Aldous Huxley Predicted It996 Words   |  4 PagesAntidepressants are a prescription drug now used by people of all ages. They have become a part of society, therefore, taking antidepressants is not frowned upon. Antidepressants a re used to make people feel â€Å"happier† and not to feel sadness. This is shown in the dystopian society in the book Brave New World written by Aldous Huxley in 1932. In that society the people use soma, a well-known drug, to make them feel no pain and are conditioned to think soma fixes everything. Helmholtz and Bernard twoRead MoreDepression in Our Youth682 Words   |  3 Pagesmental health issues from depression seek help and medical care. Only 21-34% of teens seek medical attention. Adults are more likely to seek medical attention than adolescents. Adolescents are sometimes very uncomfortable with discussing personal matters with their care provider. Teens are very â€Å"sensitive to the issues of confidentiality† and may not ask any simple health questions that they may be inquiring about. Teens that are experiencing depression will also turn away from their parents. TheyRead MoreThe Warning Signs and Risk Factors of Teen Depression993 Words   |  4 PagesPe ople constantly overlook the severity of depression, more importantly, major teen depression, which presents a legitimate obstacle in society. Teen depression’s intensity results from society’s general lack of acknowledgement of the rising affair. The surprisingly low amount of people aware of teen depression creates a serious matter in today’s world. Within the past year, 15.8% of teens contemplated the option of suicide, due to their major depression going unnoticed or untreated for (Vidourek)Read MoreDepression And Children : Depression1434 Words   |  6 Pagesadolescent. Adolescents are at a crucial time in their life and this makes them vulnerable to depression. Depression can be treated through antidepressants, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), or family therapy. In moderate cases of depression CBT is effective and not antidepressants are needed, but in severe cases CBT is not effective without antidepressants. Depression in Adolescents and Children One of the most common mental illnesses is depression; according to the World Health Organization