Teenagers with depression are always dismissed as being moody. A large number of teenagers suffer from various mental illnesses, whether it be depression, anorexia or a bipolar disorder — the list is endless. According to World Health Organisation (WHO), around 20 per cent of the world’s children and adolescents have mental disorders or problems. About half of mental disorders begin before the age of 14.
What would be the reason for this? The answer, I believe, is simple: unhappiness. That 11-letter word can actually make a great difference in a teenager’s life. A lot of teenagers are suffering from major depressive disorders but what exactly is depression? To simplify it in a practical and logical way — we have all been to the beach, and seen the waves splash at our feet. What is the feeling you get when you think about these waves and picture them splashing in your mind? Without imagination, it all seems like a dark place, but such thoughts fill it with happiness. That is what depression is — the only difference between the beach and depression is that, the beach is a wonderful place you could be in, whereas depression is not.
Many teenagers’ mental disorders are often neglected and parents put them off, saying, “it’s just in your mind.” But in our mind, we have made up a place that could make us feel better about ourselves. Depression triggers suicide but it doesn’t have to. Parents need to pay more attention and if they notice any difference in the child’s behaviour, such as difficulty concentrating or a sudden dip in academic performance, it is important to seek help and get treated. I have been there and teenage depression doesn’t have to mean a lifetime of struggle and it certainly doesn’t need to end in suicide.
— The reader is a student based in Dubai
