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The statistics on teenage depression can be dire, but there is hope.
That was the message Thursday night at a panel discussion organized by Hope for Depression Research Foundation, “Teens and Depression: Addressing the Youth Mental Health Crisis in America.”
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Founded by Palm Beach philanthropist Audrey Grass in loving memory of her mother, who struggled with depression throughout her life, the foundation is the leading depression research organization in the United States. Although the event was postponed from last week due to Hurricane Ian, registration was full and about 150 people, including dozens of students, attended the symposium at Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach.
The evening’s discussion was even more timely following the news that a 17-year-old high school student had died earlier in the day after jumping from a balcony at a Fort Lauderdale high school.
“It seems like something happens every day,” said Louisa Benton, executive director of the Hope Depression Research Foundation. “I am truly inspired and encouraged to have all of you here today. … The pandemic has really brought this issue to the fore. “
Benton moderated the panel, which included neuroscientist Christoph Anaker, Columbia University and the Depression Research Foundation Task Force; Licensed Mental Health Counselor Erin F. Beck Restoring Hope of the Palm Beaches; Psychiatrist Dr. Wei-Li Chang of Columbia University and the Depression Research Foundation Task Force; Anthony Trucks, former National Football League player and founder of Identity Transformation Coaching; and PBA students Imad Mawass and Julissa Gonzalez from the school’s chapter of Active Minds, an organization that supports mental health awareness and education for youth.
The discussion is full of tips for young people who are looking for signs of depression and also offers practical tips to support those with depression and anxiety.
Thursday night’s statistics weren’t the only story, but they helped set the tone for the conversation: More than a third of high school students experience sadness or hopelessness, a 40% increase since 2009. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for 15-19 year olds.
“It’s a common human kind of pain,” Beck said. There are many symptoms of depression, including headaches, stomach aches and fatigue.
It usually involves two weeks or more of feeling tired or low, Chang said. Young people show depression differently, sometimes as frustration, she says. “This is not just mourning,” Chang said.
Panelists also discussed teen reluctance to ask for help and how parents and other teens can create a safe space for sharing.
Mawas and Gonzalez both shared experiences with depression. Some teenagers don’t want to talk because they’re embarrassed or worried their parents will be angry, Mawas said.
“It’s a life-changing moment,” Gonzalez said of her anxiety-ridden parents. “When you put yourself out there, it gets a little nerve-wracking.”
Some teenagers may not have or know anyone to talk to about their depression, Trucks said. His mother was distant when he was growing up and she gave him away when he was young. His father was not. Cars said going to his parents was not an option.
Now, Trucks said, “it’s gotten too much” for his three children.
Anacker discussed how modern stressors play a role in the rise of depression and anxiety among teenagers. Stress responses were designed to help people survive stressful situations thousands of years ago, but today’s stress is more chronic, and human evolution has not kept pace with how stress has evolved, Anaker said.
The director said that it is important to set aside time to get rid of stress, and he said that a healthy sleep system plays an important role in that. Panelists also suggested exercise, breathing exercises, and journaling as ways to relieve stress.
Social media has been identified as a factor that may play a role in the increase in depression among teenagers. “There is a correlation, but not causation, between the advent of social media and declining mental health among teenagers,” Benton said.
According to Chang, social media can increase the amount of social stress that teenagers face.
“When you’re on social media, it’s very easy to fall into comparison,” Gonzalez says.
PBA senior business administration major Ashley Virgo was in attendance to support her friend Gonzalez, but decided to participate in the question-and-answer portion of the discussion, asking how she can best support her younger sister as she enters high school.
“It was very educational,” Virgo said of the panel. “I learned a lot about the symptoms and what to look for in the future. And I recognized some symptoms in myself that I didn’t know were depression before.”
Benton said she was “inspired and energized” by questions from listeners and young people. “Everyone was very interested in the topic and participated in a heartfelt way,” she said.
The younger generation has embraced mental health as much as the older generation, Benton said. “We saw it here tonight with these teenagers,” she said. “They really have good knowledge about it.”
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If you need help
If you or someone you know is experiencing depression or a mental health crisis, you can call 988 or text “HELLO” to 741741 for the Crisis Text Line to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
If you feel you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911.
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