17 min
Dealing with Teen Depression Teens, Tech & God
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- Cristianismo
In this episode, Dr. John addresses the growing problem of teen depression, which is being exasperated by the prevalence of and exposure to pornography. Dr. John will help parents identify if their teen could be suffering from depression.
// DID YOU KNOW?
According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), 13.3% of adolescents aged 12 to 17 had “at least one major depressive episode” in 2017. That equates to 3.2 million American teens. What’s more, 70.77% of depression sufferers experienced at least one instance of “severe impairment” that interfered with life.
Here are some other relevant statistics:
20% of females and 6.8% of males aged 12-17 suffered a depressive episode in 2017 9% of adolescents “reporting two or more races” suffered a depressive episode in 2017; this represents the highest subgroup of adolescents affected by depression, according to the NIMH 1% of depressed adolescents received no treatment; 19.6% received treatment from a health professional; 2.4% were treated with medication alone; 17.6% received treatment from both a health professional and medication (NIMH) Based on the 2017 Youth Risk Behaviors Survey,4 percent of youth in grades 9-12 reported that they had made at least one suicide attempt in the past 12 months //WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT
Here are 5 common misconceptions about depression.
You can beat depression with willpower. If you are depressed, you’re just feeling sorry for yourself. Depressed believers have weak faith. It’s easy to tell when you are depressed. Depression is a waste of time. A more clinical definition and description of depression from Dr. John. While depression is common, is it also very complex. It is a state of existence marked by being pressed down, weighed down, or burdened which affects a person physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and relationally. There are four basic types of depression: (1) Biological, (2) Situational, (3) Spiritual, and (4), Developmental
Some common signs or symptoms that a person might be depressed.
Fatigue Sleep problems Irritability Headaches, aches, indigestion, etc. Difficulty with concentration Loss of interest in food or compulsive eating Sadness, anxiety, or feeling hopeless Sudden drop in grades Loss of interest in things once enjoyed Use of alcohol or drugs or promiscuous behavior Withdrawal from friends Feelings of worthlessness Suicidal ideation Of course, see a therapist or doctor to get a definite diagnosis! Do Real Christians get depressed? Are there possible examples of people suffering from depression in the Bible? Can our faith play an important part in helping our teens deal with depression, and how?
The answer is “yes,” and as the church, we must rid ourselves of the stigma of depression. Dr. John talks about these examples from the Scriptures:
Elijah King David Jeremiah, the weeping Prophet What can you do if you think your teen is struggling with depression? Dr. John discusses three of these points in the podcast, but here’s a more thorough list.
Focus on listening, not lecturing. Resist any urge to criticize or pass judgment once your teenager begins to talk. The important thing is that your child is communicating. You’ll do the most good by simply letting your teen know that you’re there for them, fully and unconditionally. Be gentle but persistent. Don’t give up if they shut you out at first. Talking about depression can be very tough for teens. Even if they want to, they may have a hard time expressing what they’re feeling. Be respectful of your child’s comfort level while still emphasizing your concern and willingness to listen. Acknowledge their feelings. Don’t try to talk your teen out of depression, even if their feelings or concerns appear silly or irrational to you. Well-meaning attempts to explain why “things aren’t that bad” will just come across as if you don’t take their emotions seriously. Simply acknowledging the pain a
In this episode, Dr. John addresses the growing problem of teen depression, which is being exasperated by the prevalence of and exposure to pornography. Dr. John will help parents identify if their teen could be suffering from depression.
// DID YOU KNOW?
According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), 13.3% of adolescents aged 12 to 17 had “at least one major depressive episode” in 2017. That equates to 3.2 million American teens. What’s more, 70.77% of depression sufferers experienced at least one instance of “severe impairment” that interfered with life.
Here are some other relevant statistics:
20% of females and 6.8% of males aged 12-17 suffered a depressive episode in 2017 9% of adolescents “reporting two or more races” suffered a depressive episode in 2017; this represents the highest subgroup of adolescents affected by depression, according to the NIMH 1% of depressed adolescents received no treatment; 19.6% received treatment from a health professional; 2.4% were treated with medication alone; 17.6% received treatment from both a health professional and medication (NIMH) Based on the 2017 Youth Risk Behaviors Survey,4 percent of youth in grades 9-12 reported that they had made at least one suicide attempt in the past 12 months //WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT
Here are 5 common misconceptions about depression.
You can beat depression with willpower. If you are depressed, you’re just feeling sorry for yourself. Depressed believers have weak faith. It’s easy to tell when you are depressed. Depression is a waste of time. A more clinical definition and description of depression from Dr. John. While depression is common, is it also very complex. It is a state of existence marked by being pressed down, weighed down, or burdened which affects a person physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and relationally. There are four basic types of depression: (1) Biological, (2) Situational, (3) Spiritual, and (4), Developmental
Some common signs or symptoms that a person might be depressed.
Fatigue Sleep problems Irritability Headaches, aches, indigestion, etc. Difficulty with concentration Loss of interest in food or compulsive eating Sadness, anxiety, or feeling hopeless Sudden drop in grades Loss of interest in things once enjoyed Use of alcohol or drugs or promiscuous behavior Withdrawal from friends Feelings of worthlessness Suicidal ideation Of course, see a therapist or doctor to get a definite diagnosis! Do Real Christians get depressed? Are there possible examples of people suffering from depression in the Bible? Can our faith play an important part in helping our teens deal with depression, and how?
The answer is “yes,” and as the church, we must rid ourselves of the stigma of depression. Dr. John talks about these examples from the Scriptures:
Elijah King David Jeremiah, the weeping Prophet What can you do if you think your teen is struggling with depression? Dr. John discusses three of these points in the podcast, but here’s a more thorough list.
Focus on listening, not lecturing. Resist any urge to criticize or pass judgment once your teenager begins to talk. The important thing is that your child is communicating. You’ll do the most good by simply letting your teen know that you’re there for them, fully and unconditionally. Be gentle but persistent. Don’t give up if they shut you out at first. Talking about depression can be very tough for teens. Even if they want to, they may have a hard time expressing what they’re feeling. Be respectful of your child’s comfort level while still emphasizing your concern and willingness to listen. Acknowledge their feelings. Don’t try to talk your teen out of depression, even if their feelings or concerns appear silly or irrational to you. Well-meaning attempts to explain why “things aren’t that bad” will just come across as if you don’t take their emotions seriously. Simply acknowledging the pain a
17 min