Depression in the psychiatric sense is a morbid sadness, dejection, or melancholy. It is not self-limiting and it goes beyond grief in duration and intensity. Depression does not improve without professional help, and is dangerous for the individual because of the potential for suicide.¹ Depression affects all ages of life. Children, teens, adults and the elderly experience a depressive mood state.

Depression in adolescence may be a temporary, situational recreation or a chronic condition with all of the crippling symptoms of adult depression. The incidence of depression in adolescents is difficult to determine because of variations in its definition and measurement. Various researchers estimate that 5%-7% of high school students experience severe depression, and 21%-27% experience moderate depression. ² Untreated depression leads to problems at school, substance abuse, problems with low self esteem, eating disorders, internet addiction, promiscuous behavior, self injury, over exercising, reckless behavior, violence and suicide. ³ Adolescent depression has not been taken as seriously as it should be. Nevertheless, the alarming statistics on adolescent’s suicide show that depression can be a grave, life threatening condition that merits careful consideration

The U.S. National Institute of Mental Health stated that untreated depression is the number one cause of suicide, the 3rd leading cause of death among their teenagers.⁴ In Australia, researchers put forward that 28% of their teens suffer from depression, the leading cause of both suicide and substance abuse in their country.⁵ These statistics prove that teenage depression troubles other countries. However, our situation in the Philippines varies. We rarely hear of suicide among our teens except from few forecasted news in television or radio. Because of its rare occurrence, the Philippine DOH (Department of Health), Region 5 and even the Philippine DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development), Region 5 does not have an available data of suicide rate among adolescents / adults in the Bicol Region and of the Country. To understand the real nature and characteristic of depression among Filipino youths, the researcher, conducted a deeper study of its occurrence, involving the participation of 223 high school students aging from 14 – 17 yrs, from an institution in Region 5, Philippines. The school is well known for its good academic quality brought about by its stringent screening procedures. This group of adolescents is exposed to academic stress, demands, and pressure aside from the usual etiologic factors that triggers depression in common teens. The respondents were given a questionnaire-checklist designed to gather the needed data on the following issues:

1.What are the causes of teenage depression?
2.What are the manifestations of depression that the respondents experience?
3.What are the effects of depression in teen’s life in terms of:
    a.Emotional aspect
    b.Cognitive aspect
    c.Spiritual/ Religious aspect
    d.Physiologic aspect
    e.Behavioral aspect
4.What are the coping mechanisms that the respondents utilize to manage depression?
5.What are the proposed measures that can be done to minimize teenage
depression?

Causes of Teenage Depression

• School problems (projects, examinations, home works, competitive school environment, teachers, and classmates)
• Stress
• Other family related problems (separation from parents for those who has parents working overseas, conflict with other sibling/s, and family health related problems.)
• Argument with friend/s
Embarrassing moment
• Feelings of guilt
• Negative way of thinking towards self
• Parental conflicts
• Need for independence
• Feelings of helplessness
• Financial limitations
• Anger or hatred
• Negative expectations
• Change in body image
• Being unloved/neglected
• Weight loss/ weight gain
• Death of a close friend or relative
• Change in state of health
• Unresolved traumatic experience
• Break-up with a boyfriend or girlfriend
• Change in role status
• Negative way of thinking towards the environment
• Lack of supportive social network (friends)
• Separation of parents
• Being single / boyfriend / suitor/s
• Physically abused

Manifestations of Teenage Depression

• Sadness
• Loneliness
• Self blame
• Irritability
• Sleeping too little
• Denial of feelings
• Difficulty of making decisions
• Difficulty in concentrating
• Frustration
• Hopelessness
• Lost of interest in activities
• Confusion/ uncertainty
• Feelings of worthlessness
• Feelings of guilt
• Belief that no one cares
• Tearfulness or frequent crying
• Fatigue or lack of energy
• Anger / hostility
• Eating too much
• Desire for revenge
• Rebellious behavior
• Restlessness
• Lack of motivation
• Sudden drop in grades
• Extremely sensitive to criticism
• Sudden drop in work / school performance
• Misery
• Eating too little/ loss of appetite
• Lack of enthusiasm
• Sleeping too much
• Very high energy levels
• Bitterness
• Pessimistic outlook
• Thoughts of death and suicide
• Social isolation
• Intolerance
• Over dependency
• Beginning and increasing use of alcohol
• Over exercising
• Excessive anxiety
• Lack of spontaneity
• Cigarette smoking
• Unkempt / untidy appearance
• Violent actuations
• Agitation
• Beginning and increasing use of prohibited drugs