Argumentative Essay

Emma McIntyre

Composition II

Professor Hammett 

Argument Proposal

7 March 2025

Word Count 1091

Depression in Teenagers

                 Have you ever had a day where you did not want to get out of bed? What about two days? A week? A month? A year? The World Health Organization provides a statistic about how, “depression is estimated to occur among … 3.5% of 15–19-year-olds” (World Health Organization: WHO 1). This shows that it is important to watch for signs of depression in loved ones. In an article written by the Mayo Clinic, they describe some of the symptoms and signs of depression in teenagers. Teens with depression often have random spells of sadness or anger over things that normally would not be an issue; they might lose interest with things they would normally be excited to participate in and with their friends and family that they would normally turn to in times of need (“Teen depression - Symptoms and causes.” 1). It is important to be careful when brushing off a teen as being lazy or uncaring when it could really be an early sign of depression. When dealing with teenage depression, it is important to remember that it can be solved by going to therapy and learning coping mechanisms to have a structured schedule or by getting on medication.

                 Therapy is commonly known for solving a plethora of mental health problems. But is therapy the best fit for combating depression? Therapy helps teens to open up to someone who is not their parent, teacher, coach, or another trusted adult. In an article written by Nemours KidsHealth, they talk about the benefits of teens going to therapy because it helps them “explore and resolve their depression” (Depression in Teens: How Parents Can Help (for Parents) 1). Therapy creates an environment for teens to voice feelings or thoughts that they might have a hard time examining on their own, find new ways to cope with their depression, and be understood by someone (1). Although some teens might have a hard time opening up, by creating a loving and caring environment, most teeangers will be more comfortable to tell you about what has been troubling them. The evidence behind the positives of therapy shows how necessary it is to help a teenager improve their mental health. 

                 Therapy gives more than just an outlet for emotions, it also provides tools and aids to help teens in their everyday lives. The National Institute of Mental Health gives a few examples of changes that teens can make in their day-to-day schedules that can help them manage their depression like: spending time with friends and family, having a regular sleep schedule, eating healthy, and exercising regularly (“Teen Depression: More Than Just Moodiness.” 1). Many scholarly sites stress the importance for teens to not isolate themselves from others. The HelpGuide is an online organization that helps provide free resources to anyone struggling with or knows someone who struggles with mental health issues. They talk about how important it is for teens to be surrounded by people that positively impact their mental health, as well as the importance of getting involved with organizations they were a part of or organizations that they find interesting and they would be excited to join (Smith et al. 1). Stress is a big reason some teens fall into depression, and by finding ways to manage this stress it could help cope with depression (1). Most teens can easily get overwhelmed with school, and when you add depression on top of that stress it can cause bad procrastination habits and cause them to fall behind in their classes (1). These solutions are not “easy fixes” it can be hard to even think about getting out of bed let alone going out with friends. This is why it is important to use these coping skills along with another source of support like therapy or medication.

                 Medication is another very viable solution to combat depression. It can be hard to find the right type of medication to take as it can affect people vastly differently, but it is important to remember when trying a new medicine or dose to watch for the side effects it could cause (“Teen depression - Symptoms and causes.”  1). It is also important to remember that when taking medications that teenagers should not just stop taking their medicine without talking to a doctor first; many antidepressants require to slowly lower the dose until it is no longer dangerous to stop taking it (1). There are many different kinds of antidepressants available to take, and it is important to know the difference before taking any. The National Library of Medicine explains that antidepressants are used to help bridge neural passageways in the brain to help the flow of monoamine neurotransmitter function (Harmer et al. 1). Some researchers become worried about the effects of medication on a younger mind. The Mayo Clinic explains how, “the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two medications for teen depression” (“Teen depression - Symptoms and causes.” 1). While some families might not be comfortable with starting their teenager on medicine, it is important to do research on the impacts that antidepressants can have in a positive and negative way to make the best choice for their family. 

                 Sometimes, there is not just one solid perfect solution to depression; sometimes, teenagers might need multiple support systems to get out of a bad depression season. No two teens will need the same treatment plan as another, and it is important to remember that “treatment depends on the type and severity of your teenager's depression symptoms. A combination of talk therapy (psychotherapy) and medication can be very effective for most teens with depression” (Teen Depression - Diagnosis and Treatment 1). Some teens might do well with visiting a therapist and coming up with the best ways to inflict change in their life while some teens might do better with talking to their doctor and being prescribed antidepressants. 

                 There are many different ways for depression to occur in teenagers like: genetics, circumstances, or seasonal depression (Depression in Teens: How Parents Can Help (for Parents) 1). While it can be hard to decide what of these ideas would best solve teenage depression, it depends on the teen that is needing help. If a teen is experiencing seasonal depression, therapy might be the most beneficial route for them. Generational depression is passed on by ancestors and would most likely be best treated by medication. Teens suffering from circumstantial depression should talk to a trusted adult in their life to come up with a few coping skills to combat their depression. There is no right or wrong answer to figuring out what solution would best help a teen, but it is imperative to find a solution to improve their mental health. The worst thing to do for a teen is to ignore the warning signs of depression (1). 

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Works Cited

Depression in Teens: How Parents Can Help (for Parents). kidshealth.org/en/parents/teen-                                  depression.html.

Harmer, Catherine J., et al. “How Do Antidepressants Work? New Perspectives for Refining Future                  Treatment Approaches.” The Lancet Psychiatry, vol. 4, no. 5, Jan. 2017, pp. 409–18.                                       https://doi.org/10.1016/s2215-0366(17)30015-9.

Smith, Melinda, MA, et al. “Dealing With Teen Depression - HelpGuide.org.” HelpGuide.org, 21 Aug.                  2024, www.helpguide.org/mental-health/depression/teenagers-guide-to-depression.

Teen Depression - Diagnosis and Treatment - Mayo Clinic. www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-                                    conditions/teen-depression/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20350991.

“Teen Depression: More Than Just Moodiness.” National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH),                                  www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/teen-depression.

“Teen depression - Symptoms and causes.” Mayo Clinic, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-                                            conditions/teen-depression/symptoms-causes/syc-20350985.

World Health Organization: WHO. Mental Health of Adolescents. 10 Oct. 2024, www.who.int/news-                 room/fact-sheets/detail/adolescent-mental-health.