FREE ESSAY ON DEPRESSION AND SUICIDE IN ADOLESCENTS

DEPRESSION AND SUICIDE IN ADOLESCENTS

Depression and Suicide In Adolescents.
As a state of extreme grief and all-encompassing sadness, depression, if left untreated,
may lead to a deliberate murder of oneself, suicide. Depression effects individuals with
out discriminating against race, gender, or age, yet among adolescents, the incidents of
depression have increased significantly. Such increase is the potential cause of the rise
of suicide rates amidst adolescents. Therefore it is imperative to treat depression
before attempts of suicide are made, for if neglected, such attempts could become
successful. 
Through out the years, adolescence has been regarded as the most confusing and difficult
part of life, for teenagers deal not only with hormonal and bodily changes, but also with
changes of their position in the society. Responsibilities for and ambiguities about the
future, along with romantic relationships or alienation from such, are substantial causes
of anxiety and stress to an adolescent. Teenagers today face problems different from
those faced by teens of previous generations. Few of such problems are freedom, to engage
in sexual activity and to abuse drugs, experiences in loss due to the soaring divorce
rates, and the sense of loss of any kind of progress. Moreover, societal pressures to
conform to an ideal physical model induce emotional distress onto young males and
females. During adolescence teens thrive to find their identity and this identity is
fragile and is threatened by fears of rejection, feelings of failure, and of being
different. Commercialism of the favored looks and possessions may become unpleasant to a
psychologically and emotionally stable individual, who does not posses the means
advertised by the society. Such commercialism could be devastating to a less fortunate,
in regards of monetary and psychical status, adolescent trying to find his or her
identity. According to the researches of Herman-Stahl and Petersen, highly stressed
adolescents display poor coping skills, low perceptions of efficacy, pessimism and
withdrawal. Such combination of negative emotions may be concomitant of the depressive
experience (Herman-Stahl and Petersen 1996). In other words, regardless of its source,
stress is the leading cause of mental, otherwise called emotional or nervous, breakdowns,
which in return can cause depression. Another highly effective factor of depression is
the genetic predisposition. According to Garlson and Hatfield "…both simple
depressive disorders and manic-depressive disorders are genetically transmitted" (Garlson
and Hatfield 290). Therefore if a teen is genetically predisposed to depressive symptoms,
the surrounding society only adds onto the chances of such adolescent becoming mentally
depressed. Depression itself, according to Multiscore Depression Inventory, assesses nine
components such as low energy, cognitive difficulty, irritability, sad mood, guilt, low
self-esteem, social introversion, pessimism and instrumental helplessness (Wilcox and
Scatter, 1996). Thus withdrawal from social interaction and alienation of oneself, along
with the nine components, is a sign of depression. 
As stated in The Journal of the American Medical Association, adolescent suicide may be a
very different phenomenon than suicide among adults, particularly the elderly. Elderly
people who commit suicide seem to be more likely to have a clear and sustained intent to
do so. Young people, on the other hand, are impulsive and not particularly skilled in
communication (Rosengberg, Mercy, Houk 1991). According to the American Journal of
Community Psychology, suicidal rate has gone from 3.6 per 100,000 people in 1960 to 11.3
per 100,000 in 1988, whereas the rates have increased only slightly in the total
population (Reifman and Windle 1995). Such high rise in suicide rates was partially
influenced by the way suicide is viewed. In the current society, suicide, along with its
attempts, is considered an evidence of a character flaw, rather than a result of a
serious psychological disorder. Such ignorance is a significant cause of the alienation
process which prevents an adolescent from seeking help. In fear of being regarded as weak
and helpless, some teenagers take matters into their own hands, so it seems to them at
that particular moment. This fear comes from the notion of the society on suicide being
sinful and equivalent to murder, when in fact it is an act triggered by an illness.
Moreover, according to the American Journal of Psychiatry there is growing evidence of an
association between suicidal tendencies and a low level of the neurotransmitter
serotonin. A higher rate of suicide attempts has been found in depressed patients whose
spinal fluid contains low levels of a breakdown product of neurotransmitter serotonin. In
addition, several studies have also found higher numbers of serotonin nerve receptor type
in the brains of the suicide victims (Pandey, Pandey and Dwivedi 1995). Lack of the
normal amount of serotonin is a chemical imbalance, it affects the prefrontal cortex of
the brain, which seems to be the area most impacted by an serotonin system dysfunction
(Larkin and Marilynn 1996). Such evidence of a chemical imbalance in a brain,
corroborates a statement that suicide attempts are not of a character flaw, but a
chemical. 
Since even before the days of Hippocrates, who referred to depression as a "black bile"
scientists have been working on finding the cure for depression and suicide.
Psychotherapy and prescribed drugs are currently the dominant treatments for mentally
depressed patients. According to the research conducted by The American Journal of
Psychiatry in a San Diego Study, twelve percent of victims of suicide were on a some sort
of an antidepressant and seeking some sort of psychiatric counseling at the time of death
(Isacsson, Rich and Bergman 1996). Thus, supporting the statement that psychotherapy,
along with antidepressants, significantly reduces the chances of a depressed patient
committing suicide. Another factor, along with psychotherapy and antidepressants, which
could help reduce the rate of suicides, is the social aspect. Such institutions as
schools, where teenagers spend most of their adolescence, need to be more aware and alert
of depressive and suicidal symptoms. Teachers and school psychologists need to attend to
the needs of students, for adolescents are highly competitive and discriminatory against
each other. In order to prevent depression, and thus the suicide attempts, parents need
to involve themselves in the lives of their adolescent child. In result, the teenager
will be more frank and free to suggested guidance through the rough episodes. 
In conclusion, to someone who is profoundly depressed, suicide seems to be an easier
escape from the unbearable pain that placed the individual in such depressive state.
Moreover, the contemporary society regards depression and suicide as character defect,
rather than a cerebral chemical imbalance. Thus to a developing adolescent, who might
also be genetically predisposed to depression, who has not yet learned the proper skills
of coping with stresses of life and surviving the misfortunes of it, reaching out for
help could become more difficult than committing suicide. Therefore, in order to prevent
such an escape, parents, along with teachers, and responsible adult individuals need to
educate and be more aware of depression and its consequences. 
Bibliography
Chessick, Richard D. (1996) Collaborative psychoanalysis: Anxiety, depression, dreams 
and personality change. American Journal of Psychoanalysis. VIV, Issue 4. New 
York.
Herman-Stahl, Mindy & Petersen, Anne C. (1996) The protective role of coping and 
social resources for depressive symptoms among young adolescents. Journal of 
Youth and Adolescence. XXV, Issue 6. New York. 
Isacsson, Goran; Rich, Charles L & Bergman, Ulf. (1996) Antidepressants and suicide 
prevention. The American Journal of Psychiatry. VIII, Issue 2. New York. 
Panday, Ghanshyam N; Panday, Subhash C. & Dwivedi, Yogesh. (1995) Platelet 
serotonin-2A receptors: A potential biological marker for suicidal behavior. American
Journal of Psychiatry. XII, Issue 9. 
Reifman, Allan & Windle Micheal. (1995) Adolescent suicidal behaviors as a function of 
depression, hopelessness, alcohol use, and social support: a longitudinal investigation.
American Journal of Community Psychology. XXIII, Issue 3. New York.
Rosenberg, Mark L; Mercy, James A. & Houk, Vernon. (1991) Misguided, impulsive 
acts. The Journal of the American Medical Association. XXI, Issue 3. New York.
Wilcox, Monica & Sattler, David N. (1996) The relationship between eating disorders 
and depression. The Journal Of Social Psychology. XXXIV, Issue 2. Washington.