Depression is a mental state that is characterized by feelings of dejection, rejection, irritation, accompanied by low self esteem, low self value, increased tendency to criticize self, pessimism and renunciation, along with several other complex negative emotional states (Austin et al. , 2002, 1; Ainsworth, 2000; Fitzpatrick and Sharry, 2004,1).
It is a form of mental disorder that severely jeopardizes the professional and personal life of affected individuals. Recent researches and studies in this field have shown depression as becoming a common menace, affecting people irrespective of gender, age group, region or nationality.This thesis shall argue that although depression affects almost every one at some time or other, its frequency, severity and consequences are more marked for the younger generation among all the age groups. Depression different age groups Although childhood and adolescence are considered as ages of fun and carefree life, where there is freedom from anxiety, pressing responsibilities and family demands, the truth stands opposite to this deliberate reconstruction of adolescent’s mental state. The issue of depression among children, teenagers and adolescents was not considered important due to absence of systematic studies in this field.Its only in the recent years that it has been recognized as a serious sociological and clinical case meriting attention and intervention at personal and institutional levels.
Various medical researches and studies in cases of depression have found that about than one-third of non-clinical adolescent population is generally affected by mild to severe depression while in the clinical cases of depression among younger generation and adolescents, the estimates go as high as 60 percent ((Hammond and Romney, 1995).According to report of National Survey on Drug Use and health, every year around 2. 2 million adolescents are affected by at least one major depression episode (NSDUH Report, 2005). Increasing rate of suicides in the younger population group is a serious pointer towards menace and magnitude of depression affecting them. The Center for Disease Control reports state that over a period spanning almost two decades, suicide rates increased among 15-19 years old population by 11 percent and among 10-14 years by 109 % (Standard, 2000).
As a matter of fact, risk of suicide is maximum among young white males, particularly boys, and suicide as a trend is also increasing among black males (ibid).Other symptoms that point to depressive tendencies taking hold of younger generation include proclivity towards drug use, smoking and alcohol use, all of which registering their highest percentage of occurrence among the young population (ibid). On the other hand, its shown that cases of depression fall, as people move towards mature age. Various studies in psychiatric disorders and mental disorders have found that higher age groups report fewer cases of depression than the younger generations (Ellison and Verma, 2003).The older generations, especially people over 60 years of age reportedly enjoy higher level of satisfaction from life, have fewer complains and, having learned to inculcate a more holistic and pragmatic approach show comparative lower levels of anxiety and mental disorder.
Non clinical and clinical sampling of old age population all over world also strongly point towards a generally a lower rate of depression among old people (Snowdown, 2002). Old age is also the time when people have developed a more mature approach and have gained enough experience to sensibly evaluate and judge circumstances and events.Causes of depression in younger generation Depression was never characteristically associated with younger generation because their life was always considered free from tensions, conflicts and responsibilities. However, since studies and researches have found depression to be running high among them, various causes and factors have been established as major causes of depression among younger generation. Although depression can affect any one and at anytime, the more serious cases of depression among young people happen due to genetic, social and personal problems.
Young people with close relatives having depression are found to suffer from depression at later stage. Those with behavioral abnormalities, emotional problems and those having suffered physical, sexual or mental abuse are particularly affected by severe depression (Fitzpatrick and Sharry, 2004, 16). In recent readings the role of family environment and social structure has emerged prominently as determining cause in affecting the depression levels among younger generations.Young people with unstable families, lack of family support, absence of approval and having families with parental conflicts show higher instances of getting affected by depression (Alpert et al. 1997).
Early cases of depression are also marked among children below four years of age having working parents. Prolonged separation from parents causes depression among children which further manifests in later years on more severe and persistent basis(Ainsworth, 2000). Younger generation also suffers through depression due to emotional trauma, relational troubles and their own ambitions that lead to depression if they fail to materialize.Among young people, adult young females are more vulnerable to depression than males, due to hormonal, interpersonal and their closer and disclosing nature of interaction within family and consequently family control (Alpert et al. 1997; Ainsworth, 2000).
The struggle for power in the typically male dominated social structure also result in depression, especially among young career oriented women. In the psychological study of depression, causes of depression are explained from point of view of psychoanalytic theory, behavioral theory, environmental theory, cognitive theory, neurological theory, interpersonal theory and neuroharmonal theory.Symptoms of depression The usual symptoms of youngsters suffering through depression are loss of focus, accompanied by low self esteem and self value. Young people under depression adopt a negative attitude, stay quiet for long hours, stop interacting with family members, undervalue their own capacity, getting hyper-critical of themselves where they predict failures for themselves in every field (Hammond and Romney, 1995). Some of the major symptoms of depression among younger generations are (Standard, 2000; Hammond and Romney, 1995; Fitzpatrick and Sharry, 2004)1.
Mood swings and withdrawal in shell: Although temporary mood swings are common among all adolescents, a depressed young individual would show prolonged persistence, that points towards a depressing phase in the life. 2. Loss of interest and pleasure in activities that earlier were stimulating: This is an important pointer when young people suddenly stop exhibiting any interest in the very activities that earlier they enjoyed doing. 3. Irritability, anger and frustration: Though disagreement with family members and friends are part of development of every adolescents, depressed young individuals show extreme irritation, anger, and frustration, especially in their family 4.
Appetite loss and consequently weight reduction: One of the most noticeable symptom of young individuals in depression is tendency to neglect food, and hence health loss, which they rather welcome 5. Insomnia: Insomnia is another major noticeable symptom, though its occurrence also depends on the family background of the individual.Some other symptoms of depression are: • Continuous state of fatigue and energy loss • Reduced ability to think and focus • Recurrent of thoughts of suicide and increased fascination with death Consequence of depression among younger generation Depression in general distorts the personality and causes alienation of individual. However in younger generation its effects are especially dangerous as it has been shown to lead to drug problems, increase alcoholism and most alarmingly attempted suicides.Young people, due to their more unstable emotional state than elders, and underdeveloped thought process and inability to of mature judgment suffer through greater degree of anxiety and nervousness as compared to elder people for similar circumstances. Thus even minor disagreement with parents, siblings, academic or professional issues, conflicts or rejection within peer groups and love problems affect them profoundly and lead them often to attempt suicide (Standard, 2000).
Feeling of complete hopelessness and interpretation of life in negative terms also lead to instances of suicide (Standard, 2000).Prolonged depression among younger generation among youngsters can cause mental and psychoanalytic order in the later stages of life. Treatment One of the important problem with young people going through depression is that it has been difficult to identify it among them. Young people are reluctant to admit their depression or ready to cooperate with any corrective measures. As its noted, the cooperation and help of the affected person, and their compliance in taking anti-depressant treatment contributes significantly towards their recovery and it is vital in mitigating depression.
