Fort Bliss Monitor

Tips given to detect teen depression

Maj. Mark C. Brown, MD
WBAMC

The Fort Bliss military community is alive with young families, led by parents doing their best for their children. Many of us worry about the challenges our children meet as they grow. Most kids survive the journey through adolescence to adulthood and independence without major difficulty. Others need some assistance to stay on a healthy, successful developmental path.

The following information is derived from an expert panel’s review of thousands of research articles studying the issue of suicide among American teenagers. Many of these points also pertain to adults.

Teen suicide is a rare and tragic event that is a matter of great concern for all of us. In the United States, approximately 2,000 adolescents commit suicide each year. Many factors predispose to suicide. The overwhelming majority of adolescents who commit suicide (greater than 90 percent) had an associated psychiatric disorder at the time of their death. More than half suffered from a psychiatric disorder for at least two years. High stress events often precede adolescents’ suicides. Some of these include the loss of a romantic relationship, disciplinary troubles in school or with the law and academic or family difficulties.

Suicide is much more common in adolescent boys, but many of the risk factors are the same for both sexes.
It is impossible to gauge and predict future suicidal behavior among our adolescents. However, research has provided some broad indicators about risk factors that are worthy of consideration.

High-risk factors for suicide in adolescents:

• Boys are at much higher risk than girls.

• Among boys, important factors are previous suicide attempts, age 16 or older, Associated Mood Disorder (such as major depression or bipolar disorder), associated substance abuse.

• Among girls, mood disorders and previous suicide attempts are important to consider. Immediate risk is predicted by agitation and major depressive disorder.

Signs and symptoms of depression

• Depressed mood, sadness, irritability, withdrawal or easy tearfulness.

• Lack of interest in previously enjoyable activities.

• Sleep disturbance, sleeping too much or too little.

• Feelings of inappropriate guilt or hopelessness about the future.

• Decreased energy or fatigue.

• Problems with concentration or decision-making.

• Changes in appetite and body weight, gaining or losing weight.

• Slowing of body movements, speech, or agitation.

• Thoughts of death, wanting to die or feeling that one would be better off dead.

Those who have raised adolescents know that the goal of this developmental period is to establish one’s identity and independence from the family. Naturally then, we can expect adolescents to withdraw from the family and show more interest in peers. Compounding this problem, teenagers become less interested in complying with parents’ direction, preferring to decide and learn for themselves. A timely and useful idea is that, as parents, we cannot cast a vote for our adolescent. We can only strive to ensure a “free election.” We must stay available and be present, maximizing the opportunities to listen and communicate with our teens.

This type of presence and availability is best achieved with televisions, video games, telephones, computers, pagers, and cell phones turned off. Shared activities such as sports, art projects, wood working projects, auto repair projects, community service and religious activities, cooking, swimming, traveling on day trips, boating and fishing all provide the chance to hear your teenager and influence them. Through your strong effort to understand your adolescent’s experience, you assist them in tolerating the thoughts, feelings, behaviors and changes of the teenage years.

Fort Bliss offers a variety of free, confidential mental health services to Soldiers and family members. Soldiers can be seen by a mental health provider on a walk-in basis or by appointment. For options call Community Mental Health Service, located inside the Soldier Family Medical Clinic Bldg. 2496, or you may call 568-4781. Army One Source is a program established to provide confidential mental health evaluation and treatment outside of the military mental health system. Soldiers and family members may call 1-800-464-8107 for details.

Family members have similar services available at WBAMC at the Outpatient Psychiatry Service. Call 569-2801 for information. A referral from your primary care manager is preferred. TRICARE Prime beneficiaries can seek counseling without a referral through the TRICARE network at no cost.



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	February 17, 2005

<map name="boxmap-b4"> <area shape="rect" coords="0, 589, 120, 600" href="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm/privacy-policy.html?o=1" > <area coords="0,0,10000,10000" href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=&creative=92501&camp=8117&link_code=dl1&path=subst/misc/amazon-cobrand-cc/v3/marketing-from-associates-step1.html/ref%3Db1_assoc_29" > </map>	Tips given to detect teen depression Maj. Mark C. Brown, MD WBAMC The Fort Bliss military community is alive with young families, led by parents doing their best for their children. Many of us worry about the challenges our children meet as they grow. Most kids survive the journey through adolescence to adulthood and independence without major difficulty. Others need some assistance to stay on a healthy, successful developmental path. The following information is derived from an expert panel’s review of thousands of research articles studying the issue of suicide among American teenagers. Many of these points also pertain to adults. Teen suicide is a rare and tragic event that is a matter of great concern for all of us. In the United States, approximately 2,000 adolescents commit suicide each year. Many factors predispose to suicide. The overwhelming majority of adolescents who commit suicide (greater than 90 percent) had an associated psychiatric disorder at the time of their death. More than half suffered from a psychiatric disorder for at least two years. High stress events often precede adolescents’ suicides. Some of these include the loss of a romantic relationship, disciplinary troubles in school or with the law and academic or family difficulties. Suicide is much more common in adolescent boys, but many of the risk factors are the same for both sexes. It is impossible to gauge and predict future suicidal behavior among our adolescents. However, research has provided some broad indicators about risk factors that are worthy of consideration. High-risk factors for suicide in adolescents: • Boys are at much higher risk than girls. • Among boys, important factors are previous suicide attempts, age 16 or older, Associated Mood Disorder (such as major depression or bipolar disorder), associated substance abuse. • Among girls, mood disorders and previous suicide attempts are important to consider. Immediate risk is predicted by agitation and major depressive disorder. Signs and symptoms of depression • Depressed mood, sadness, irritability, withdrawal or easy tearfulness. • Lack of interest in previously enjoyable activities. • Sleep disturbance, sleeping too much or too little. • Feelings of inappropriate guilt or hopelessness about the future. • Decreased energy or fatigue. • Problems with concentration or decision-making. • Changes in appetite and body weight, gaining or losing weight. • Slowing of body movements, speech, or agitation. • Thoughts of death, wanting to die or feeling that one would be better off dead. Those who have raised adolescents know that the goal of this developmental period is to establish one’s identity and independence from the family. Naturally then, we can expect adolescents to withdraw from the family and show more interest in peers. Compounding this problem, teenagers become less interested in complying with parents’ direction, preferring to decide and learn for themselves. A timely and useful idea is that, as parents, we cannot cast a vote for our adolescent. We can only strive to ensure a “free election.” We must stay available and be present, maximizing the opportunities to listen and communicate with our teens. This type of presence and availability is best achieved with televisions, video games, telephones, computers, pagers, and cell phones turned off. Shared activities such as sports, art projects, wood working projects, auto repair projects, community service and religious activities, cooking, swimming, traveling on day trips, boating and fishing all provide the chance to hear your teenager and influence them. Through your strong effort to understand your adolescent’s experience, you assist them in tolerating the thoughts, feelings, behaviors and changes of the teenage years. Fort Bliss offers a variety of free, confidential mental health services to Soldiers and family members. Soldiers can be seen by a mental health provider on a walk-in basis or by appointment. For options call Community Mental Health Service, located inside the Soldier Family Medical Clinic Bldg. 2496, or you may call 568-4781. Army One Source is a program established to provide confidential mental health evaluation and treatment outside of the military mental health system. Soldiers and family members may call 1-800-464-8107 for details. Family members have similar services available at WBAMC at the Outpatient Psychiatry Service. Call 569-2801 for information. A referral from your primary care manager is preferred. TRICARE Prime beneficiaries can seek counseling without a referral through the TRICARE network at no cost.