Susan’s 13-year-old son, Joe, was found lying in his bedroom with a gap in his wrist and was taken to the emergency room. The good-looking young boy didn't let anyone know that he was struggling with chronic depression, which was the result of his obesity and short stature. Like Joe, there are many teenagers in the United States who succumb to depression, and nearly 5,000 of them are between the ages of 15 and 24. Unfortunately, their condition has not been diagnosed due to the stigma associated with mental disorders. Lack of knowledge about psychological problems prevents parents, friends and caregivers from discovering symptoms and providing them with the necessary help.

The mental health of American youth is in a devastating state, as the latest US report shows. from

American mental health from

 [MHA], a community non-profit organization dedicated to meeting the needs of people with mental illness. According to the report, the rate of adolescent depression has increased over the past five years. About 50% of those who were screened between the ages of 11 and 17 thought of self-harm and suicide throughout the week. About 76% of adolescents [equivalent to 1.7 million] have not been treated for severe depressive symptoms. Parents and caregivers can step in and build a strong support system before the tragedy occurs.

Some ways parents can help adolescents stay away from depression are:

1. Promote effective communication: from

   People should not wait for the right time or when they grow up and talk to them about mental health. It is important to encourage them to talk about their lives, the pressure of their peers, their impulse to experiment with any substance or alcohol, and their insecurity about their physical or self-image. Ask them how they do in academia. If bad grades bother them a lot, they will date anyone, whoever spends time after school will give the child a thought. Adolescents may not be very easy to accept at first, but gradually, he or she will be open. Parents should not judge or condemn them because it prevents children from sharing experiences.

2. Encourage social relations: from

    Avoiding the connection between people and living in the outer shell may be detrimental to the mental health development of adolescents. Parents should encourage young people to spend quality time with friends, extended families and neighbors, because social relationships can help a person gain knowledge, shift his or her attention from self to others and develop good friendships. Lonely teenagers are more likely to suffer from depression.

Hormonal changes and brain development during adolescence can affect their ability to make decisions. They constantly need to ensure that they are on the right path. Volunteers and philanthropy are other ways to help others understand that others may have more serious problems but have decided to live.

3. Give priority to physical health: from

   Adolescents must be encouraged to participate regularly in some form of exercise. If they are idle or take a sedentary lifestyle, they will gain weight, which can lead to depressive symptoms. Regular physical exercise helps to relax and strengthen the hormones that feel good. Parents should discourage children from eating processed foods and junk food, and should encourage them to focus on nutrition that contains essential minerals and vitamins. In addition, they must be encouraged to spend less time on their phones, sleeping at least 8 to 10 hours.

Get professional support

Helping young people make healthy choices can be a stepping stone to prevent any mental illness. If adolescents are already struggling with depression, it is best to seek professional support to recover from time to time. Parents should assure them that they will be fine if they are properly cared for.

Parents help young people to get rid of depression tips was originally published on Spring