Depression Among American Teens

In today’s America, mental health disorders have become an epidemic issue. That said, there is perhaps no greater threat to America’s teens - namely, teenage girls - than that of generalized depressive disorder. 

Depression is by far the most prevalent mental illness in today’s world. But while depression is known as a non-discriminatory illness - meaning, it affects every demographic age, and race - it has affected teenage girls more than any other demographic in the US. In fact, according to the latest surveys, teenage girls are three times as likely to experience depressive symptoms than boys.

By The Numbers

According to a Pew Research Center analysis from 2017: 

• 13% of teens between the ages of 12 to 17 (3.2 million) claim to have suffered from one or more major episodes brought on by depression. These numbers are 8% more than the previous survey which was conducted in 2007. 
• Teenage girls in America are three times as likely to suffer from depression than boys
• 20% of teenage girls (2.4 million) have had at least one depressive episode within the previous year (2016)
• Only 7 % of teenage boys from 2017 claimed to have suffered from a depressive episode
• The rate of growth of teenage girls who experience depression rose 59% between 2007 and 2017, the growth was faster for girls (66%) than it was for males (44%) 
• Teenage girls were also more likely to receive professional psychiatric treatment than males - 45% of depressed girls receive treatment compared to only 33% of boys

Considering that suicide is currently the third-leading cause of death among teenage girls, parents of depressed teenage girls should make finding the most effective psychiatric treatment - like that of neurofeedback - a top priority. 

What is Neurofeedback? 

Neurofeedback, otherwise known as electroencephalogram (EEG) feedback, is a psychiatric practice that provides patients with feedback from a computer that is analyzing their brainwave activity. The computer program subsequently utilizes sounds and visuals to retrain the patient’s brain signals. The end result is that, by responding to the neurofeedback process, patients restructure and fortify their brain’s function. For example, those who are mentally ill are able to alleviate their illnesses symptoms by engaging in the neurofeedback. 

Neurofeedback is used to treat the following disorders and conditions: 

• Seizures
• Behavior disorders
• ADD and ADHD
• Autism
• Anxiety
• Depression
• PTSD
• Insomnia and other sleep-related disorders
• Age-related cognitive loss

Due to its many practical uses, neurofeedback programs are often used in conjunction with other psychiatric interventions and therapies. 

Relieving The Symptoms of Depression With Neurofeedback

Depression is the most common, as well as dangerous, mental illness in the US. While some days of experiencing sadness is just a part of living, the persistent and constant feelings of depression is a serious and even potentially fatal mental health disorder known as, generalized depressive disorder (GAD). 

It should be noted that any individuals who experience symptoms of depression for more than 14 days should seek the immediate services of a mental health professional - especially those who have experienced suicidal thoughts or ideations. 

When seeking help for depression, some will effectively treat their illness by simply seeing a counselor for one-on-one weekly or bi-weekly therapy sessions. However, if their depression is not effectively treated by traditional therapy sessions, the counselor may suggest seeing a psychiatrist where the depressed person will be diagnosed and prescribed an anti-depressant for their depressive symptoms. 

But while a medicated regimen may be effective for some individuals, there are many depressed persons that would rather abstain from using potentially dangerous anti-depressants that, in many cases, can make matters even worse due to unforeseen or unintended side effects. For people such as these, neurofeedback provides a safe and effective additional or alternative solution. 

How it Works 

In dealing with depression many neurofeedback therapists place an electrode on the scalp over each side of the brain and train the individual to increase alpha brainwaves on the right side while reducing it on the left. As the left side of the brain becomes more active, individuals begin to feel more positive in their moods. The excess frontal alpha diminishes in magnitude over a period of training sessions and relief becomes continuous.