Facts About Suicide and Depression
- About 20 percent of teens will experience teen depression before they reach adulthood.
- Between 10 to 15 percent of teenagers have some symptoms of teen depression at any one time.
- About 5 percent of teens are suffering from major depression at any one time.
- 30 percent of teens with depression also develop a substance abuse problem.
- Teenagers with depression are likely to have a smaller social circle and take advantage of fewer opportunities for education or careers.
- Depressed teens are more likely to have trouble at school and in jobs, and to struggle with relationships.
- Teens with untreated depression are more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors, leading to higher rates of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.
- Teens with depression seem to catch physical illnesses more often than other teens.
- Most teens with depression will suffer from more than one episode. Twenty to 40 percent will have more than one episode within two years, and 70 percent will have more than one episode before adulthood. Episodes of teen depression generally last about 8 months.
Teen depression can affect a teen regardless of gender, social background, income level, race, or school or other achievements, though teenage girls report suffering from depression more often than teenage boys. Teenage boys are less likely to seek help or recognize that they suffer from depression, probably due to different social expectations for boys and girls – girls are encouraged to express their feelings while boys are not. Teenage girls’ somewhat stronger dependence on social ties, however, can increase the chances of teen depression being triggered by social factors, such as loss of friends.
Risk factors that increase the chances of an episode of teen depression include:
- Previous episodes of depression
- Experiencing trauma, abuse, or a long-term illness or disability
- A family history of depression; between 20 to 50 percent of teens who suffer from depression have a family member with depression or other mental disorders
- Other untreated problems; about two thirds of teens with major depression also suffer from another mental disorder, addiction to drugs or alcohol, anxiety, or antisocial behaviors
Less than 33 percent of teens with depression get help, yet 80 percent of teens with depression can be successfully treated if they seek help from a doctor or therapist, and many local health clinics offer free or discounted treatment for teens with depression.
Are you or a friend suffering from depression? These symptoms may indicate depression, particularly when they last for more than two weeks:
- Poor performance in school
- Withdrawal from friends and activities
- Sadness and hopelessness
- Lack of enthusiasm, energy or motivation
- Anger and rage
- Overreaction to criticism
- Feelings of being unable to satisfy ideals
- Poor self-esteem or guilt
- Indecision, lack of concentration or forgetfulness
- Restlessness and agitation
- Changes in eating or sleeping patterns
- Substance abuse
- Problems with authority
- Suicidal thoughts or actions
Get Information about other afflictions
| Facts about Alcohol | Facts about Tobacco |
| Facts about Marijuana | Facts about Other Drugs |
| Facts about Suicide and Depression | Facts about Dating Violence |
