Adcen's Anxiety Cure

Teen depression

There was an interesting article published in the April 2005 issue of Reader's Digest on teen depression…

"The 2001 Malaysian Urban Mental Health Survey found that 23 per cent of 13- to 15-year-olds may have experienced symptoms of depression. And expert across the region are witnessing a rise in teen depression. "We are definitely seeing more cases now than five years ago," says Dr Joycelyn Nieva Yatco-Bautista, president of the Child and Adolescent Phychiatrists of he Philippines."

Tip from the article: Depressed or defiant?
Experts concede that it can be difficult to tell the difference between a normally rebellious teenager and one who's genuinely depressed. But there's a guide that can help. More than two weeks of depressed, apathetic or irritable mood, plus four of the following symptoms, could indicate true depression:
- fatigue or loss of energy
- sleep problems
- change in appetite or weight
- poor concentration and difficulty making decisions
- feeling worthless or guilty
- restlessness of lethargy
- thoughts of death and dying

posted by Chen Tong @ 9:20 AM