Myths about depression often times prevent people from doing the right thing. Some of these myths are:
Myth: “It's normal for teenagers to be moody; teens don't suffer from “real” depression.”
FACT: Depression is more than just being moody, and it can affect people at any age, including teenagers. Any change in personality or in daily activities must be questioned (2).
Myth: “Telling an adult that a friend might be depressed is betraying a trust. If someone wants help, he or she will get it.”
FACT: Depression saps energy and self-esteem. It interferes with a person's ability to get help. It is a true act of friendship to share your concerns with an adult who can help (2).
Myth: “Talking about depression only makes it worse.”
FACT: Talking through feelings with a friend or a trusted adult is often the first step in getting help. Friends can provide the support and encouragement to talk to a parent or other trusted adult about getting evaluated for depression (2).
Myth “Adolescent depression is not a big problem in America.”
FACT : Statistics on teen depression are sobering. 1 in 5 children have some sort of mental, behavioral, or emotional problem. Among adolescents 1 in 8 suffers from depression. Suicide is the 3 rd leading cause of death in people ages 15 to 24. Even more shocking, it is the 6 th leading cause of death in children ages 5 to14!
Myth: “Female adolescents are only looking for attention when they seem to be depressed.”
FACT: Nearly twice as many women than men suffer from depression, even if they have no apparent cause, women can be severely depressed and in need of serious help.
Myth: “Depression is contagious.”
FACT: Depression is not an illness that can be “transmitted” by contact or by sharing or spending time with the ill person. However, depression does run in families and more than one member of a family can suffer from depression at any time in their life.
Myth: “The person who is depressed and goes for help is just crazy.”
FACT: A person who seeks help is courageous. It takes a truly brave person to admit they need help. Getting help is the smart thing to do. NOT getting help is crazy.
Myth: “Parents are always aware of their children's well-being.”
FACT: Most people who suffer from depression keep their feelings hidden. The only way for parents to understand the illness is to be aware of the symptoms and maintain open communication with their child.
Myth: Depression is something that happens to everybody at some time in their life.
FACT: There is a big difference between feeling sad and suffering from clinical depression, which is a very serious illness requiring professional treatment.
Myth: Prescription drug treatment for depression is too strong for adolescents. It's better if they get over it by themselves.
FACT: Antidepressants use has been approved for adolescents and has demonstrated positive effects in recovery. When clinical depression is not treated it can become much worse, produce more problems and can end in suicide.
Myth: People who get depressed are weak.
FACT: Emotions and personality play a big role in development of depression, but chemical imbalances in the brain and genetic predisposition also contribute to the depression development process.
Myth: Adolescents will never talk to their parents about their feelings.
FACT: It is true that many adolescents feel parents don't understand their feelings most of the time. But when parents leave the door open and let their children express their feelings without judging them, kids will be more likely to talk with their parents.
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