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When
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 Examples of the Signs of Depression What Is Depression Other types of mood disorder Incidence of Depression Depression in Young People Information provided by the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand
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| Checklist for
signs of depression (Rey (1995) outlines the following checklist to help parents of adolescents become aware of possible signs of depression in adolescent children)Your adolescent child probably suffers from Depression if he or she: Has shown a marked change in character, a decline in school work and a changed relationship to family and friends and appears unhappy, tearful, down in the dumps or complains of sadness or emptiness or has lost interest or enjoyment in most activities and pastimes previously enjoyed and at the same time has shown four or more of the following symptoms: 1. Appetite or weight has changed considerably (has lost or gained a substantial amount of weight) 2. a change in sleeping pattern: can't sleep at night or sleeps too much 3. is restless, agitated (pacing, wringing hands) or has slowed down (e.g., spends hours staring in front, finds it hard to move) 4. has lost a lot of energy, complains of feeling tired all the time 5. feels worthless or complains of feeling inappropriately guilty ('everything is my fault', 'I am bad') 6. believes that life is not worth living, there is no future and will be better off dead |
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Examples
of the Signs of Depression
People working closely with adolescents are finding
Rey's checklist a useful guide if they are concerned that a young person's behaviour has
changed significantly. The following signs of depression in young people have been
observed by workers in the community: they may make depression difficult to identify, but
they are very important as they provide early warning signs, and opportunity for early
intervention: Changes in character Irritable;
e.g., snapping at people for no apparent reason Physically
aggressive or verbally aggressive Abandoning
favourite hobbies or sports Passive TV watching Risk-taking; e.g., dangerous driving Misuse of drugs and alcohol. Changes in school behaviours (including
training courses and work settings) Frequent absences from school through
'wagging' & Gets poorer grades for assignments than formerly Complains of being bored. Becomes
disruptive in class Loses interest in activities which once
were fun Finds it harder to stay on task. Loses
concentration Mentally confused. Finds decisions
difficult to make Cannot remember commitments: doesn't turn
up to appointments Has difficulty staying still or
conversely, is lethargic Projects personal difficulties on to
others; e.g., bullying Sets self up for rejection by peers and/or
teachers. Takes on the victim role Changes in
relationship to family and friends Stops going
out with friends; shows no interest in group outings Increase or
decrease in sexual activity May start
associating with a different peer group Expresses
negativity about family More than
normal conflicts with parents and siblings Changes
eating and sleeping habits Changes in
feeling, thinking and perceiving Expresses
inappropriate guilt Feelings of
not being good enough, worthlessness, failure Expressions
of hopelessness: nothing to look forward to Speaks in a
monotonous or monosyllabic manner Preoccupied
with self; withdrawn, shows inner distraction Cries
easily, looks sad, feels alone or isolated Fears about
having to be perfect. Fearful of doing something bad Incidents
of self-injury. Ideas of killing self
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Life is full of 'ups and downs', and most people have periods of experiencing the 'blues' or feeling 'down'. Depression is not just 'feeling blue' or 'down in the dumps', and it is more than experiencing normal grief and sadness after a loss. DEPRESSION IS AN ILLNESS
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Other types of mood disorder include:
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| Incidence
of Depression Precise data relating to the prevalence of depression in the community are unavailable because it often goes unreported. However, even the conservative figures we do know indicate that depression is a major health problem in New Zealand. 'There are about as many people with depression as there are people with asthma.' (What is Depression? National Health Committee, 1996). The following information is generally accepted in the literature:
Depression can
affect people of any age, culture, and occupation.
About ONE in
every SEVEN people.... in New Zealand will develop a Depressive Disorder during their
lifetime. (Wells et al. 1989)
In any two
week period, ONE in TWELVE people will have a Depressive Disorder: 6.4% will have
Dysthymic Disorder, and 3.7% will have a Major Depressive Episode. (Oakley-Browne et al.
1989)
Depression is
one of the three most common mental health problems in young people. (Along with alcohol
and drug missuse and addiction and anxiety disorders).
The first
onset of a major depression often occurs in mid to late adolescence. Adolescents who
experience depression are at risk of having a recurring episode of depression.
Chronic Low
Grade Depression (Dysthymia) often precedes a Major Depressive Disorder.
Depression is
a significant problem for young people who are in custody or who are shelterless
(homeless). Clinical Practice Guidelines:Depression in Young People, Draft Document,
September, 1996. NHMRC, Canberra.
Comparative
data from Canada, Germany, United States, and New Zealand indicate that major depression
rates have been increasing. Since 1945 the onset of depression has been occurring at an
increasingly earlier age, a trend that has been more marked in recent years, especially
among young men born since the 1960s. (Weissman et al. 1977)
Studies in New
Zealand have found that the prevalence of depression increases with age in adolescence,
with a three-fold increase post puberty, and 'about equal prevalence among boys and girls
until 15-years, after which there appears to be a greater prevalence in females. '(McGee
et al. 1992). Although the incidence of young women being diagnosed with depression is
higher than for young men, it is not known whether this indicates a greater willingness to
seek help on the part of the women. |
| Depression
in Young People Adolescence is a period of transition between childhood and adulthood. For the purposes of this resource the term adolescence applies to young people in the approximate age range of 12 to 20 years. Adolescence is a time of adaptation and integration into broader society, including establishing one's own identity. It is a time of major physical, emotional, intellectual and social changes for the young person. Adolescence is a vulnerable time for depression as it is a period characterised for many young people by: Natural mood
swings Self-consciousness Concerns over body image Precarious self-esteem, dependent on
outside circumstances Relationship problems and break-ups A future that is beginning to exert fears
and pressures A lot of natural idealism which the
day-to-day realities of life constantly threaten Attempts to establish sexual identity and
security Concerns about sexuality and sexual
behaviour Exposure to peer group pressure Exposure to alcohol and drugs Frequent value conflicts with parents Acute academic pressures Transition from school to the public arena
(Adapted from Mourant, 1989) Depression in young people is similar to that in adults in many respects. For example, a young person may have clinical depression if they have had a number of the signs of depression for two weeks or more, as in adults. The key differences are in the manner of presentation. That is: In a young person the signs of depression may be expressed differently than in an adult. This can result in depression in young people going undetected. |
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