The impact of depression on youth and adults

Depression. It’s a word thrown around a lot, but it can be hard to define and pin down. At its core, depression is defined as a persistent feeling of sadness or loss of interest. 

It can affect how someone feels, thinks and behaves and can result in many different emotional and physical problems. 

According to Statistics Canada, major depression affects about 5.4 percent of Canadians.

The common symptoms that are commonly associated with depression include:

  • Sadness, tearfulness, emptiness or hopelessness 

  • Loss of interest in activities

  • Angry outbursts 

  • Problems sleeping too much or too little 

  • Tired and a lack of energy

  • Loss or increase in appetite

  • Anxiety 

  • Agitation

  • Restlessness 

  • Thinking, concentrating, speaking, and body movement becomes more difficult

  • Frequent thoughts of death, suicide attempts or suicide 

Depression is not about one-offs. Feeling down in a single instance or for a day or two is nothing to be concerned about. 

It’s when the symptoms persist that it becomes a concern. Day-to-day activities such as work, school, hobbies, sports, and spending time with friends become a struggle. You feel down, and often you can’t explain why.  

When this happens, it’s a good idea to reach out to a professional, like a counsellor at SOS. Leaving it unchecked can have severe repercussions on the mental and physical health of the individual. 

The impact on young people

At SOS, we have seen a significant increase in young people coming forward with depression.

While there are many similarities in the symptoms youth and adults experience, there can also be some differences. 

Younger children may feel sadness, irritability, clinginess, worry, aches and pains, refuse to go to school or are concerned about weight.

The common signs of depression for teens include:

  • Worthlessness

  • Anger

  • Poor performance or poor attendance at school

  • Feeling misunderstood

  • Extremely sensitive to using recreational drugs or alcohol

  • Eating or sleeping too much

  • Self-harm

  • Loss of interest in everyday activities

  • Avoidance of social interaction

Education around depression

Depression is something that is often subject to misconception or misinterpretation. For example, someone may think a teenager has an attitude problem when, in fact, they are struggling with depression.

Many youth haven’t been educated about depression and simply don’t know what they are dealing with. It’s essential to keep having these conversations. 

As the late comedian, Robin Williams once said: “Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be Kind. Always.”

If you or a young person in your life is struggling with depression, please reach out.

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