2 Million Teens Suffer from Depression; How to Tell and What to Do

According to a report published by the Associated Press, nearly two million teens in America are depressed and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is calling for doctors to routinely screen all teenagers for depression. The government-appointed task force findings, reported in the April issue of Pediatrics journal, state that 6% of teens are clinically depressed and detailed but simple screening questionnaires given in pediatrician offices can easily detect teen depression.

A new law passed in October of 2008 and going into effect in January 2010 may help parents with insurance coverage for treatment of depressed teens and teens with substance abuse problems. The Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 will end the inequity of insurance coverage in many group health plans between mental health treatment, substance abuse treatment and physical health treatment. The new law does not mandate that group health insurance plans provide coverage for mental health or substance abuse treatment, but if they already provide that coverage, it must be with the same level of benefits as is the physical health coverage with respect to deductibles, co-pays, out-of-pocket expenses, and annual or lifetime dollar limits.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has videos for parents who need to learn more about teen depression, helping teens cope with anxiety and stress, learning the warning signs of teen suicide, and dealing with behavioral and mental health problems in teens. Some of the early warning signs that a teen is depressed include changes in appetite, changes in mood, withdrawal from social activities, withdrawal from family activities, anxiety, and substance abuse. While most teens experience short, temporary periods of emotions, feelings, and confusion about life, parents must learn the warning signs and treatment options for more serious adolescent mental health problems.

Treatment for teen depression does not always have to include antidepressant medications prescribed by pediatricians or family doctors. If your health insurance plan provides for it or if you can afford it on your own, you can search for psychotherapists or psychiatrists that specialize in child and teen mental health. Your family doctor or pediatrician may be able to refer you to a pediatric mental health specialist after determining through simple screening that your teen is depressed or needs help with substance abuse. If you are a member of a church or religious group, you might also seek pastoral help for your teen's depression.

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry provides excellent Facts for Families information in several languages for how to find a child and adolescent psychiatrist. These Facts for Families resources also explain more about psychotherapy treatment for a depressed teen. The Academy suggests parents immediately seek help for your teen if you observe these adolescent behaviors:

Marked change in school performance

Inability to cope with problems and daily activities

Marked changes in sleeping and/or eating habits

Frequent physical complaints

Sexual acting out

Depression shown by sustained, prolonged negative mood and attitude, often accompanied by poor appetite, difficulty sleeping or thoughts of death

Abuse of alcohol and/or drugs

Intense fear of becoming obese with no relationship to actual body weight, purging food or restricting eating

Persistent nightmares

Threats of self-harm or harm to others

Self-injury or self-destructive behavior

Frequent outbursts of anger, aggression

Threats to run away

Aggressive or non-aggressive consistent violation of rights of others; opposition to authority, truancy, thefts, or vandalism

Strange thoughts, beliefs, feelings, or unusual behaviors

Sources:

Nearly 2 Million Teens Depressed, Government Urges Screening for All

Associated Press, March 30, 2009

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,511455,00.html

Summary of the Wellstone-Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008

http://www.apapractice.org/apo/in_the_news/parity_summary.GenericArticle.Single.articleLink.GenericArticle.Single.file.tmp/SummaryOfTheNewParityLaw.pdf

American Academy of Pediatrics

http://www.aap.org/healthtopics/depression.cfm

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/child_and_adolescent_psychiatrist_finder/child_and_adolescent_psychiatrist_finder

Facts for Families

http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/facts_for_families/facts_for_families