Teen Depression
Storyboard Text
- Hey Amanda, you doing okay today?
- I'm feeling really down today and I'm not really sure why?
- Energy Level: 0%
- Oh no, that's no fun I'm sorry to hear that. I have had that problem too. Something that helped me was to talk to my counselor here at the school about it. Maybe that could help you too.
- Thanks for the advice, I think I will probably try that because I don't know what to do.
- I'm feeling really depressed today for no reason, I'm not really sure what to do. I feel this way almost every day.
- What brings you in today Amanda?
- I'm sorry to hear that. Let's talk more about it, like why you may be feeling this way and what we can do to help.
- According to the World Health Organization, depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide, affecting an estimated 350 million people, and depression onset increases dramatically during the middle and high school years. Depression at this age is also linked with alcohol involvement, smoking, drug use, problems with peers and parents, and poorer academic performance. Among adolescents, depression adversely affects developmental trajectories and is strongly associated with functional impairment, recurrent depression later in adulthood, and comorbid mental disorders (Parikh et al., 2018).
- Take a look at this Amanda, you're not alone in this!
- Here are some statistics on what kids your age are feeling pressures about, which directly contributes to feelings of depression
- According to the Pew Research Center, 61% of teens say they feel a lot of pressure to get good grades. By comparison, about 29% say they feel a lot of pressure to look good and to fit in socially, while roughly 21% feel similarly pressured to be involved in extracurricular activities and to be good at sports (Horowitz et al., 2020).
- I have never really liked any of my PE classes....
- For a lot of people, just getting outside and getting active can make a big difference! Don't be afraid to take a physical education class to break up the day, your brain needs a break from working so hard!
- The four dimensions of promoting teens mental health in physical exercise are sense of behavior control, behavior intention, behavior habit, and emotional experience. Did you know, regular physical exercise can release the excess energy in your body, reduce anxiety and depression, relieve tension, improve personal relationships, and improve self-esteem and self-confidence (Guo Zhang, 2022)?
- Hmmm.... Maybe that's why we have to take it....
- And it sounds like a good excuse to hang out with my friends more!
- Physical health lays a strong foundation for mental health. Maybe it will also inspire you to get involved in some activities outside of regular school hours!
- Now let's talk about social media! We'll start with the good things:
- Pro's:Opportunities to get involved in the communityGrowth of ideas by sharing podcasts, blogs, videos, and musicExpansion of diverse online connectionsDeveloping social skills and personal identityEnhanced learning opportunitiesAccess to health information resources(O’Keeffe Clarke-Pearson, 2011)
- Now let's talk about the not so good things... the things to watch out for:
- Con's:Cyberbullying and online harassmentSending, receiving, or forwarding sexually explicit messages, photographs, or images via cell phone, computer, or other digital devicesToo much time spend on social media, causing isolation, depression and fear of missing out(O’Keeffe Clarke-Pearson, 2011)
- Smartphones can be pretty cool, but just watch out for those negative things to make sure you are keeping a healthy relationship with technology.
- Maybe I will try taking some breaks from social media!
- Get comfortable asking for help!
- There are so many different resources available to help you out with your mental health. You can always come talk to me, but don't be afraid to get your friends and family involved too. A good support system is very important!
- These websites provide guides on emotional health, including test anxiety, depression, bullying, and eating disordershttps://youngwomenshealth.org/https://youngmenshealthsite.org/Go Ask Alice! is specifically for young adults, it's a giant database of questions about a variety of concerns about mental healthhttps://goaskalice.columbia.edu/Reach Out has information on specific mental health disorders, resources to help you make a safe plan when feeling suicidal, and helpful tips on how to relaxhttps://au.reachout.com/(Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine, 2023)
- Here are some resources for you to be able to help yourself too. Maybe you can even give some of your friends these suggestions as well.
- Crisis Text Line: Visit www.crisistextline.org/ or just text HOME to 741741National Eating Disorder Association:Visit www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/ or call 1-800-931-2237National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:Visit www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255)(Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine, 2023)
- Here are some resources if you ever feel like you need a quick response from someone
- I feel so much better already! I'm going to give some of these tips a try!
- I hope all this was helpful Amanda! I am always available if you need to chat again.
Over 30 Million Storyboards Created