Introduction
Teenage depression is a problem that more and more teenagers have been facing in recent years. It is a mental state that can lead to long-term difficulties and issues in psychological and social adaptation. External stressors have been among the causes of depression in teenagers, and their influence is increasingly approaching severe psychological distress. This article looks at issues related to teenage depression: identification, ways of support, and health implications from the nurse’s point of view.
Defining Depression
Depression is a state of experiencing persistent sadness and hopelessness, which external stressors and adverse emotional conditions can exacerbate. It is essential to understand that depression is a big problem for teenagers and their families. Therefore, it is necessary to take action to identify and support teenagers who have depression (Horowitz & Graf, 2019). For this, the nurse should have a basic knowledge of teenage depression and how to support and help them cope with it.
Demographics
Depression is one of the most widespread problems in modern society and also the most common mental illness among adolescents. Depression affects children and adolescents of all ages and genders, and it can accumulate due to several external stressors. One of the most common external stressors related to adolescent depression is the problem of overcrowding in schools. This can make children and adolescents feel isolated and excluded from the group (Khesht-Masjedi et al., 2019). In such a situation, adolescents often despair, become alienated and powerless, and can develop depression.
Nursing Assessment of a Patient with Depression
Assessing a teenage patient for depression and external stressors requires a special procedure and interpretation of data. At the initial assessment, the nurse should assess somatic signs such as energy level, appetite, activity, and behavior. To understand the situation better, the nurse should ask the patient several additional questions, such as about the patient’s behavior in school, friends, and activities outside of school, problems at home or in the family, and understanding of the patient’s feelings and emotions.
After the initial assessment, the nurse will need to use different instruments to identify depression and external stressors, such as psychological tests, interviews with parents, medication checks, and observation of the patient’s actions. During the diagnostic interview, the nurse must ask the parents about the patient’s health and behavior at home and check how closely they communicate with their child (Bose et al., 2021). This will help assess the role of the family in the assessment process and understand how the family reacts to the patient’s problems.
The Role of Ethics and Empathy When Working with Teenage Patients with Depression
According to ethical principles, the nurse should behave professionally and not reveal information about the patient to parents or guardians unless the information is in direct danger. However, the nurse can and should work with the parents and provide them with hints and recommendations on how to support the child’s health and well-being (Bose et al., 2021). The nurse can also suggest to the parents and patient that they seek the services of a psychologist or other qualified professional for further assistance.
Nurses’ support of teenagers confronting external stressors should be based on empathy and acceptance. The nurse should be prepared to accept them at any time, regardless of how difficult their situation is. It is vital to create a trusting environment so that teenagers feel safe and assured that the nurse understands them and does not judge them (Feng et al., 2021). Being patient and allowing teenagers to talk about their feelings and problems is also crucial.
Patient Education on Diagnosis and Treatment
It is also necessary to provide access to resources to help them better understand their problems and receive psychological services. For example, the nurse can help them find a psychologist or other professional services. She can also help them find public programs to help teenagers overcome their problems. Nurses should also be prepared to provide information and advice on how to respond in situations where the consequences of external stressors may lead to mental or physical problems (Feng et al., 2021). For example, the nurse can help them develop action plans to solve the problem, seek help from parents or friends, and properly manage their emotions.
Finally, the nurse should be ready to provide teenagers with information about a healthy lifestyle that helps them cope with stress, such as regular physical activity, proper nutrition, adequate rest, animal-assisted therapy, and social connections (Feng et al., 2021). All this information will help teenagers avoid problems related to mental health and prevent the consequences of external stressors.
Conclusion
Depression is an important issue that adolescents face today. This complex phenomenon can manifest itself in various actions and behaviors and has several external stressors. These can be problems with overcrowding in schools, emotional losses, traumatic events, or stress from parents or educators. Understanding the causes and recognizing the problem is the first step to solving this problem.
References
Bose, J., Zeno, R., Warren, B., Sinnott, L. T., & Fitzgerald, E. A. (2021). Implementation of universal adolescent depression screening: quality improvement outcomes. Journal of Pediatric Health Care, 35(3), 270-277.
Feng, Y., Lin, Y., Zhang, N., Jiang, X., & Zhang, L. (2021). Effects of animal-assisted therapy on hospitalized children and teenagers: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 60, 11-23.
Horowitz, J. M., & Graf, N. (2019). Most US teens see anxiety and depression as a major problem among their peers. Pew Research Center, 20.
Khesht-Masjedi, M. F., Shokrgozar, S., Abdollahi, E., Habibi, B., Asghari, T., Ofoghi, R. S., & Pazhooman, S. (2019). The relationship between gender, age, anxiety, depression, and academic achievement among teenagers. Journal of family medicine and primary care, 8(3), 799.