Argumentative Essay On Depression And Anxiety

Depression and anxiety are very tough disorders to go through, and more often than not, teenagers are not feeling the acceptance they need. There are several ways in which one can help these suffering teens feel loved; for example, psychotherapy is a major method used. Psychotherapy is otherwise known as “talk therapy”. It allows for those who have depression and/or anxiety to talk out their problems with someone they trust. Being able to freely speak about their problems is great way for teenagers to figure out long term solutions for their mental illness. Although psychotherapy is one way to help teens, the main objective is to make sure they feel totally and completely accepted. By listening and acknowledging the suffers’ issues, it allows …show more content…
Some of these objectives allow for people to be aware of and accept events that have painfully effected their lives, understand certain feelings or triggers that make their illness worse, and retake control of their lives by creating rational self-goals. There are two different types of psychotherapy: cognitive behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy mainly focuses on negative thoughts and how one can change them to positive thoughts, while interpersonal therapy focuses on the personal relationships of the patient. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, “Psychotherapy alone may be the best option for people with mild to moderate depression, but it may not be enough for people with severe depression” (“Depression”). Teenagers have been shown to greatly improve in their fight against depression with the help of acceptance. It has been proven that “[i]n any given year, about 20 % of adolescents globally will experience a mental health problem, most commonly depression or anxiety” (Livheim 1016). Even more so, clinical depression is at an all-time high rate. Programs that are successful and beneficial need to be implemented into schools to help with this growing mental health concern. Based on a study conducted by Fredrik Livheim and others, teenagers that are treated with acceptance therapy are much more able to recover from their mental illness than teenagers who are …show more content…
A number of different situations can arise when these signs are ignored. Suicide is a very major, and a very real issue when it comes to worsening depression. According to Mental Health America, “The rate of suicide for this age group has nearly tripled since 1960, making it the third leading cause of death in adolescents and the second leading cause of death among college-age youth.” It is a very real problem that can happen to any teenager suffering from a mental illness. As stated above, the failure of recognizing the symptoms can lead to worsening depression, suicide, and sometimes medical illnesses. It is also proven that the risk of a reoccurring mental illness rises when treatment is stopped (Orenstein). Also, Keith King, Catherine Strunk, and Micheal Sorter state, “Studies suggest that 90% of teenagers who commit suicide have a diagnosable and/or treatable mental disorder and that more than 50% of these teens had major depression,” meaning the suicide could have been prevented. Some of the warning signs of depression include: art that alludes to death, handing out personal possessions, suicidal mentions or ultimatums, a serious decline of grades or attendance, and abnormal changes in behavior (“Depression”). I have heard of at least three suicides in my life that have happened in my own community. All of these deaths happened because the warning signs and