Mar 8, 2019, Jackson (TN) Sun: Why are our teenagers so depressed? https://www.jacksonsun.com/story/news/local/2019/03/08/why-our-teenagers-so-depressed/3106236002 / There’s a new epidemic attacking our society: adolescent depression. Over the last decade, the rates have been steadily inclining and the stats are alarming. According to a recent report by BlueCross/BlueShield in 2018 the depression rate for adolescents (ages 12–17) since 2013 has risen 63 percent: 47 percent for teenage boys and 65 percent for teenage girls. Recent studies indicate that up to 20 percent of all teens in the U.S. suffer from clinical depression: that’s one-in-five. According to the Johns Hopkins Health Review (fall/winter 2017), around 3 million young people between 12 and 17 had experienced at least one major depressive episode over the course of a one-year period . This finding was consistent no matter the geographical location, whether among urban, rural, or suburban populations. Moreover, various alarming behaviors, such as self-harm, have also been growing. … We all know that being a teenager can be difficult, especially with all the physical, psychological and social changes occurring at this pivotal time in life. While it’s normal for young people to experience ups and downs, sometimes depression may become a chronic condition. Contributing to the problem includes such things as unrealistic expectations, romantic relationship heartbreaks, academic pressure, and extracurricular stress. … With the general increased level of stress in our society, which triggers depression and mood disorders, those who are genetically or personality-wise predisposed to it, are particularly susceptible to the emergence of various symptoms during the confusing and difficult developmental stage of adolescence. … Dr. Ryan Fraser is an associate professor of clinical mental health counseling at Freed-Hardeman University and licensed clinical pastoral therapist.
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Childhood Lost
Children today are noticeably different from previous generations, and the proof is in the news coverage we see every day. This site shows you what’s happening in schools around the world. Children are increasingly disabled and chronically ill, and the education system has to accommodate them. Things we've long associated with autism, like sensory issues, repetitive behaviors, anxiety and lack of social skills, are now problems affecting mainstream students. Blame is predictably placed on bad parenting (otherwise known as trauma from home).
Addressing mental health needs is as important as academics for modern educators. This is an unrecognized disaster. The stories here are about children who can’t learn or behave like children have always been expected to. What childhood has become is a chilling portent for the future of mankind.
Loss of Brain Trust features over 9,000 news stories published worldwide since January, 2017
Anne Dachel, Media editor, Age of Autism
http://www.ageofautism.com/media/
(John Dachel, Tech. assist.)
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What will happen in another 4 years? How can we go on like this? This is a national (and international) problem of monumental proportions. We have an entire new class of children who cannot be accommodated by the system: many are manifestly neurologically impaired. Meanwhile, the government and the medical profession sleep on regardless.
John Stone,
UK media editor, Age of Autism
The generation of American children born after 1990 are arguably the sickest generation in the history of our country.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
It seemed to me that with rising autism prevalence, you’d also see rising autism costs to society, and it turns out, the costs are catastrophic.
They calculated that in 2015 autism cost the United States $268 billion and they projected that if autism continues at its current rate, we’re looking at one trillion dollars a year in autism costs by 2025, so within five years.
Toby Rogers, PhD, Political economist
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