Depression and Suicide

There are many factors associated with adolescent depression and suicidal thing and behaviors. One of these factors is social media. Social Media has a massive impact on young people today. Adolescents are comparing their lives to the people they follow on social media and becoming overly aware of things they do not have, with teenagers becoming extremely materialistic (Foster et al., 2017). There is so much pressure on teenagers today to do better than there, peers and everyone they see on social media. Some also lack self-esteem due to comparisons they make with people on their social media platforms. It is a lot to take on for them, and it can be highly overwhelming due to the sheer quantity of things they have to deal with. Once teenagers become too overwhelmed, it becomes more difficult for them to cope and causes them to collapse under pressure or even commit suicide. Another factor is income. According to research, many teenagers from low-income households commit suicide due to income problems. Children from low-income families find it hard to come with life due to a lack of food, education, shelter, and basic needs. Most of them fall into depression due to a lack of these needs, while others have suicidal thoughts.

One thing major step that can help address suicidal ideations is sharing the struggle with other people. Inviting other people into a person’s pain can be scary, but that vulnerability can go a long way. Having a couple of close family members and friends to walk alongside through this could make a significant difference. It is suitable for an individual always to know who they can reach out to get overwhelmed. It is essential to find ways to process thoughts and feelings or ignore them when they are too strong (Gallagher & Miller, 2018). People can process and release stress through exercising, cooking, singing, creating art, or reading.

A critical resource when working with a teenager who is displaying depression and suicidal ideations is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. This sort of therapy is designed to treat depression. It will help an adolescent identify the problems he or she is going through and changing the patterns of thinking and behavior they are currently experiencing (Foster et al., 2017). After that, I would sign the adolescent up for Inter-Personal Therapy. This is group therapy where interpersonal issues are addressed so that relationships can be build up so that there is support around. Another resource I can use is Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) which is a group-based therapy to prevent relapsing after successful treatment. This therapy should be done after the adolescent depression has been alleviated using the previous methods recommended.

An approach a colleague can use to assist teenagers displaying suicidal ideations and depression is starting a therapeutic relationship. Through this, the colleague can constantly assess an adolescent’s level of suicide risk if he suspects this symptom might be present. During the first appointment, he can ask the client if he or she has ever had thoughts of hurting him or herself (Gallagher & Miller, 2018). This is helpful to destigmatize the symptom so that the client knows that the social worker is comfortable talking about what is usually taboo to discuss. Adolescents talk about their feelings of wanting to hurt themselves because they want help. Once the social worker has normalized their experience and has helped to develop an effective treatment plan which provides for their safety and includes psychiatric care, the adolescent’s symptoms will be relieved, averting the crisis.

This approach will effectively help my colleague treat an adolescent client undergoing these circumstances. Through this, he will establish trust, which is a critical step towards recovery and making the therapy more productive (Foster et al., 2017). Since the adolescent seeks help, he or she must trust that his social worker’s skill set, knowledge, and desire are appropriate for care.

References

Foster, C. E., Horwitz, A., Thomas, A., Opperman, K., Gipson, P., Burnside, A., … & King, C. A. (2017). Connectedness to family, school, peers, and community in socially vulnerable adolescents. Children and youth services review, 81(1), 321-331.

Gallagher, M. L., & Miller, A. B. (2018). Suicidal thoughts and behavior in children and adolescents: an ecological model of resilience. Adolescent research review, 3(2), 123-154.