Today’s Youth face new challenges that no other generation in the history of the world have ever encountered. Combined with the traditional challenges of growing up, it is no wonder why 2.5% of children in America suffer from depression before reaching adulthood. Roughly 3.1 million adolescents aged 12 to 17 in the America have had at least one major depressive episode. Dealing with the emotional, physical and psychological changes that come with being a young adult is never easy but experiencing these changes in the 21st century is especially tumultuous.
Here at TMS Health Solutions, we are committed to help the generation of tomorrow deal with their mental health in a more innovative manner. In 2015, TMS Health Solutions brought on Dr. Kevin Rosi, an adolescent and young adult depression specialist. Since graduating from his Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at Stanford University in 2007, Dr. Rosi has focused primarily on treating children, adolescents, and young adults. He is Board-certified in Adult Psychiatry by the American Board of Neurology and Psychiatry and completed a visiting fellowship in Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) at Duke University in 2015.
Adolescent depression can be more difficult than clinical depression in adults because of the emotional high’s and low’s that every teen experience. Take the time to explain the symptoms of depression with your child or teen so that they can more readily identify the mental illness and seek help for it. The sooner treatment is sought, the more likely it is that an adolescent will achieve remission of an episode, which will decrease risk of for future episodes. Like clinical depression in adult’s, symptom’s lasting longer than 2 weeks should be addressed immediately.
Parents who think their child may be suffering from depression should ask themselves: How is my child coping with stress? What coping skills do they have? Is their daily routine (sleep, appetite, energy, motivation) being affected in any way? Are there changes in grades, peer interactions, engagement in family activities? Answers to these questions should guide the direction of treatment that parents seek for their children. Rarely, do adolescents seek help on their own, leaving it to the loved ones supporting the child to seek professional advice. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders defines clinical depression as, “A period of two weeks or longer during which there is either depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure, and at least four other symptoms that reflect a change in functioning, such as problems with sleep, eating, energy, concentration, self-image or recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.”
Treating adolescent depression is extremely important because if left untreated, the illness can become life threatening. Traditionally, Psychotherapy, Cognitive-behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, and medication were the primary counter measures to adolescent depression. Dr. Rosi from TMS Health Solutions commented, “I’ve always believed in utilizing a holistic approach that emphasizes pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic options to best treat each individual patient, especially when dealing with the sensitive nature of adolescents and young adults.”
Adolescent depression can have dire consequences. Each year, roughly 5,000 young people, ages 15 to 24, commit suicide. This rate nearly tripled since 1960, making it the third leading cause of death in teens and the second most common cause of death among college-age youth. Look for warning signs ranging from; direct and indirect suicide threats; artwork or messages referring to death; irrational behavior; and changes in eating or sleeping patterns. 80% of teen’s who have attempted suicide give warnings about their mental state, stay in tune with your child and be aware of such signs. If your child has shown such warnings, help them seek professional aid or get them in touch with someone who can. Please call 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255).
TMS Health Solutions does administer TMS treatment to teen patients with clinical depression under different circumstances than adult patient’s. Unfortunately, most major insurance’s only cover TMS treatment when administered to those over the age of 18. TMS Health Solutions is dedicated to helping those seeking to better their mental health, regardless of age. Further, the TMS Health Solution Patient Access Team will do everything in their power to help patient’s secure funding for such treatment.