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In the midst of the pandemic, we have seen a rise in depression, anxiety and suicide in adolescents, particularly females.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n One recent<\/span> meta-analysis<\/span><\/a> concluded that after the first year of the pandemic,\u00a0 \u201c1 in 4 youth globally were experiencing clinically elevated depressive symptoms, while 1 in 5 youth\u00a0 were\u00a0 experiencing clinically elevated anxiety symptoms.\u201d These were double pre-pandemic estimates.\u00a0 Another<\/span> report from the CDC<\/span><\/a> reported a 30% increase in hospital visits for suicide attempts for persons age 12-25 in the last year and half.<\/span><\/p>\n This is also what I see consistently in my practice. \u00a0 Even when I was a clinician in a community mental health\u00a0 facility 20 years ago, depression, anxiety and attentional challenges were the most common reasons children came to our clinic. Now it is more prevalent than ever and I wish I knew then what I know now about how to support the brain, the body and the heart of young people. What I do know is that there\u2019s not a one-size -fits-all treatment.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n With this rise, there is also an increased need for quality care that encompasses the whole person including therapy, appropriate medication support, nutritional support and social infrastructure. A holistic approach, with a root-cause focus, can be personalized and comprehensive. But most importantly, families need\u00a0 care and guidance to understand how to support their teens. Here is a guide to help get\u00a0 started, regardless of what stage of the journey you\u2019re\u00a0 in.<\/span><\/p>\n How do you know if your child is actually clinically depressed or anxious? We all feel sad and worried at times\u2026 but there are thresholds that impact our ability to carry out daily functions, and this is where we need to pay attention.\u00a0 Depression and anxiety can look slightly different in teens than adults, and they may not understand what is happening if this is new.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n There are many root causes for anxiety and depression:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Why focus on depression and anxiety together? <\/strong><\/p>\n Because they are so connected with\u00a0 50% of people who have one, have both. Depression can lead to thinking that focuses on the past: what went wrong, what is broken and can\u2019t be fixed, often accompanied by a hopelessness to change.\u00a0 Anxiety tends to fixate on the future, anticipating what could go wrong with a need to control variables to ensure the desired outcome. We all fluctuate through experiences of sadness, frustration and worry, but clinical depression and anxiety mean these experiences are embedded so deep and wide they begin to impact daily functioning and relationships.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Depression and anxiety can induce a spectrum of responses to internal and external beliefs and stressors. A holistic approach must take into account not only the root causes, but the inputs and outputs that keep the person stuck in an unhealthy pattern . \u00a0 So let\u2019s break it down by four key areas:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The biochemistry of the depressed or anxious brain can be equated to a car engine. If the spark plugs are misaligned or misfiring, the car will not run smoothly. It may also be out of gas or have a flat tire. Oftentimes medication is introduced, which can act like the gas or the air in the tire, but if you put in too high of an octane or the tire still has a puncture, you aren\u2019t really dealing with the root cause of the problem. <\/span><\/p>\n Antidepressants and anxiolytics are \u00a0 wonderful tools for lifting the fog\u00a0 and gain focus. The downside is that most medications deplete nutrients even further. And data shows that nutrient deficiency is a major cause and perpetuator of depressive and anxious symptoms and cognitive decline. Regardless of whether you take medication, here are some nutrient levels that should be tested regularly to determine how much to supplement.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n To see my recommended protocol for mood health head <\/span>here<\/span><\/a>. Additionally,\u00a0 dessicated liver supplements, like those from <\/span>Ancestral Supplements<\/span><\/a>, are key to getting whole food nutrients that are highly bioavailable like Vitamin A, B12, folate, B2, zinc and choline.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Focusing on nutrient sufficiency early and often can prevent or reduce the negative effects of using pharmaceutical medications. Ask your doctor to run labs for these nutrients or enlist a nutritional therapist like myself, who can run blood labs to identify if nutrient deficiency is a root cause for your child\u2019s symptoms.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n One of the most important, yet highly stigmatized strategies for disordered moods, is therapy or counseling. It is a key component for diagnosis and building necessary skills. Here are a few to consider based on the type and severity of challenges one is facing in no particular order or preference:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n One or more of these approaches can work in individual, family and group therapy to support the mind and body. When it comes to working with teens, I encourage a combination of all three\u00a0 to allow for \u00a0 the individual and collective support needed\u00a0 to cope with depression and anxiety.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This leads me to the social aspect of treatment for teens. No young person lives in a vacuum, and many of the challenges in depression, anxiety and potential suicide is the sense of shame and isolation.. Stories flourish in our minds and when\u00a0 not spoken aloud, \u00a0 are allowed to weave and take root, creating rigid thinking. Yet, when we\u00a0 bring the shame and \u00a0 pain to \u00a0 light, they lose their power. . We can only do that in the presence of another. Individual, and group therapy, with peers, is powerful,along with\u00a0 mentorship.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I am a big fan of mentorship, pairing a teen with an older teen or adult who has had similar experiences, \u00a0 someone who can be real, listen and direct them towards greater support when needed. Programs like <\/span>Boys and Girls Club of America<\/span><\/a>,\u00a0 <\/span>Mentoring.org<\/span><\/a> or<\/span> Girls Rising<\/span><\/a> are a great place to start.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Spiritual\u00a0 practice has been\u00a0 supportive of mental health. Studies have demonstrated that <\/span>belief in a higher power, the importance of prayer, and finding meaning through challenges\u00a0 were effective antidotes to depression. Significant research has shown mindfulness, meditation, and other spiritual practices are supportive in the treatment of depression and anxiety. My estimation is that the sense that faith and trust in a greater plan can be comforting for many. It can be as simple as:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n These should not be used in lieu of therapy and other treatments, but as adjuncts to support their care.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Addressing the needs of a teen experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety can be scary. Especially if those symptoms include self-harm or suicidal thoughts. Navigating the mental health and medical system can be confusing and overwhelming for most.. Many teens will not\u00a0 tell you they are struggling, but their behavior will. They must be taken seriously, but in a supportive and loving manner. Punishment or isolation for behaviors associated with depression and anxiety are counterproductive and may lead to actual self-harm by the teen.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n For\u00a0 parents\u00a0 concerned with the mental health and well-being of their child, I encourage you to reach out for support immediately.\u00a0 You can speak to a doctor, school counselor or therapist if you need support. I am also available for consultation to help you determine the next best steps for your child\u2019s care.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n To book a free 20-minute discovery call, schedule here: <\/span>https:\/\/calendly.com\/amysaloner\/20min<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n ************<\/p>\n Resources<\/strong><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/mmwr\/volumes\/70\/wr\/mm7024e1.htm<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC181193\/<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5874849\/<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0028390811003054<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007%2Fs00726-008-0195-6<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.psych.theclinics.com\/article\/S0193-953X(12)00100-1\/fulltext<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/abs\/pii\/S009130571300004X<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/23377209\/<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/?term=vitamin+d+and+depression<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC474734\/<\/span><\/a><\/p>\nASSESSMENT<\/span><\/h2>\n
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SUPPORT<\/span><\/h2>\n
Body:\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Mind:\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Social:\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Spirit:\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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In Conclusion:\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n