Depression

Depression has been around for a longer period of time than we can imagine. Depression has been considered to be the major psychiatric disease of the 20th century, affecting approximately eight million people in North America (http://www.ndmda.org). It is a matter of whether it is diagnosed and treated or left alone. This is a problem that can affect everyone whether they themselves are diagnosed or simply by knowing someone with depression.

People with psychiatric illnesses are twenty times more likely to die from accidents or suicide than people without psychiatric disorders (http://www.nami.org). Major depression, including bipolar affective disorder, often appears for the first time during teenage years, and early recognition of these conditions will have profound effects on later morbidity and mortality.

Is depression in adolescents a significant problem? Well, the suicide rate for adolescents has increased more than 200% over the last decade (http://www.ndmda.org). Adolescent suicide is now responsible for more deaths in youths aged fifteen to nineteen than cardiovascular disease or cancer. Recent studies have shown that greater than twenty percent of adolescents in the general population have emotional problems and one-third of adolescents attending psychiatric clinics suffer from depression. Despite this, depression in this age group is greatly under diagnosed, leading to serious difficulties in school, work, and personal adjustment, which often continue into adulthood.

Depression presents in adolescents with essentially the same symptoms as in adults; however, some clinical shrewdness may be required to translate the teenagers? symptoms into adult terms. Wearing black clothes, writing poetry with morbid themes, or listening to certain types of music may exemplify sadness. Sleep disturbance may manifest as all-night television watching, difficulty in getting up for school, or sleeping during the day. Missed classes reflect lack of motivation and lowered energy level. A drop in grade averages can be equated with loss of concentration and slowed thinking. Boredom may be a synonym for feeling depressed. Loss of appetite may become anorexia or bulimia. Adolescent depression may also present primarily as a behavior or conduct disorder, substance or alcohol abuse or as family turmoil and rebellion with no obvious symptoms reminiscent of depression (http://www.apa.org).

I chose this topic because it occurs much too often. I witness it myself. Of my friends, whom I still have from high school, three of them were diagnosed. I did not find it odd that they all came from unstable families. I definitely think that this factor may influence depression because I know for a fact that they feel abandoned by one or both parents. It is horrible to think, but depression is a popular problem. Another reason as to why I chose this topic is because as often as it occurs, it needs more attention. Teachers, parents, family, and friends need to be aware of the warning signs so that the problem can be dealt with before it progresses. I chose East Stroudsburg high school South because it was easier for me if I did it in East Stroudsburg rather than driving home to Lancaster. Although, I was interested in seeing the school program and the facility itself because my high school was all I?d ever known. Sometimes I guess I thought other high schools would be like mine. It is strange; it is odd to think that I took my high school for granted.

I went about finding a person in the school by simply making a telephone call. I spoke to one of the secretaries of the guidance office and set up an appointment with Mrs. Keglovits for Wednesday, November 28th at 8:30AM.

The woman I interviewed was Linda Keglovits. She is a guidance counselor at East Stroudsburg Senior high school located on 279 North Courtland Street, East Stroudsburg, PA, 18301. Mrs. Keglovits?s phone number is (570) 424-8877 and her fax number is (570) 420-8353. Her responsibilities are to help students with academic problems, choosing colleges and careers, personal problems, and so on and so forth.

The student may be referred by the teacher to Mrs. Keglovits. By talking with the student it enables her to determine easier whether it is depression or not. When coming to a conclusion there are many avenues, which may be chosen. This is difficult to actually follow the plan of action because families have to agree to everything, including medication. Sometimes families do not follow through with the medication making it very hard for the child to receive help. Doctors are obviously also a factor. Sometimes doctors do not monitor dosage, making it harder for recovery. The dosages should be evaluated and checked on a regular basis. Also included in the plan of action, a school counselor may be brought in from the Intermediate unit.

The school has an official policy of confidentiality. Students feel more at ease sharing their thoughts when they know it is confidential. The school provides special programs. With the diagnosis of depression there is a partial hospitalization program, which consists of classes with no more than eight students to a class. This is provided through Special education services. Here they will work on different methods to change thinking, behavior, and promote positive thinking and positive ways. Other agencies or organizations involved are support groups through Student Assistance.

The funding for the programs comes from partially the school and partially MH/MR. So, how serious is the problem according to my contact? Linda Keglovits thinks that the problem is abundant but actually finding students that want help is hard and time consuming. On the other hand, if the student wants help, the family has to be notified and their permission is required. Sometimes parents are in denial that their son or daughter could ever be suffering from depression