The cover story of the Oct. 7, 2002 edition of Newsweek examines the prevalence of depression among children and teenagers in our country today. According to the article, which examines both the available anecdotal information and scientific research, over three million children and adolescents suffer from some type of clinical depression. Although these figures do not describe a problem of epidemic proportions, teenage depression is a serious health issue that affects families, the educational system, the insurance industry and our mental health system. Another way of looking at this issue realistically is that there are over three million children experiencing emotional crisis in their lives.

According to experts, most of the nearly three million adolescents struggling with depression never receive the help they need because of the stigma associated with mental illness, inadequate mental health resources and widespread ignorance about how emotional problems can impact young lives. The National Institutes of Mental Health estimates that eight percent of adolescents and two percent of children (some as young as 4) have symptoms of depression.

There are many factors that can contribute to a young person becoming depressed. Paramount is genetics and the reality that psychiatric illnesses such as depression can be caused as a direct result of a chemical imbalance in the brain. Family history and heredity are also contributing factors that play an important part in helping mental health professionals shape an informed diagnosis and course of treatment. And, there are many environmental and social factors that can cause depressed feelings in young people including drug and alcohol abuse, catastrophic illness, physical disabilities, financial hardships, dysfunctional or stressful family relationships, victimization, and trauma.

Although mental illnesses are considered among the more invisible of the disabilities, meaning that it is difficult to determine that someone suffers from a mental illness based upon appearance alone, there are symptoms that families can watch for in determining that a child or adolescent might be depressed. Based upon a duration of two or more weeks, families might observe increased physical complaints; frequent absences from school or a drop in grades; increased incidents of shouting or crying; reckless behavior; extreme sensitivity to criticism; loss of interest in social relationships; difficulty in interpersonal relationships; extreme changes in physical appearance or changes in eating, sleeping and personal hygiene.

So, what can we do to help our children and ourselves cope with the growing incidence of depression among young people? Learn the symptoms, read the literature, and know where the resources are. Being depressed at any age is not a life sentence. Depression is a treatable illness and often talk therapies, group support, medication, and/or family education can all have a positive impact upon a young person's ability to regain a sense of control, personal happiness and independence. No one ever said that growing up was going to be easy, but getting help for depression is. If you or someone you know is sad or exhibits signs of depression, call the Counseling Center at Central Nassau Guidance and Counseling Services at 822-6111.