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C OPING

reasons for those strong emotions.
It's a quick fix that can be really dangerous for the body. "

When to Worry

Teen Depression:
Risks and Signs

Teen depression was on the rise before
the coronavirus pandemic. But as the
springtime shutdown turned into a
long-term quarantine-with schools
going virtual, sports getting canceled
and gatherings with friends being put
on hold-teens were cut off from many
of the resources and outlets they rely
on as coping mechanisms. Some kids
are at increased risk for depression
and anxiety, notes UVA pediatric psychologist Haley Stephens, PhD:
Girls are about two to three times as
likely as boys to experience depression.
Kids who encounter adverse childhood events and have less access
to resources have greater mental
health concerns.
Children who are questioning their
gender identity or dealing with social
pressures around being their authentic
self often have higher rates of depression and self-harm.
Behaviors that may signal your teen is
struggling with depression:
Social isolation or not engaging
with friends and family
Irregular sleep habits, either
sleeping too much or too little
Anger or irritability
Self-harm
Increased substance use
Talking or writing about death
or suicide

PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES

For Immediate
Support in
Times of Crisis

Encourage your teen to
contact the
CRISIS TEXT LINE:
text HOME to 741741
or call the
NATIONAL SUICIDE
PREVENTION LIFELINE:
800-273-8255

For those who continually turn to
self-harm, there is a risk of serious
injury-a cut may be too deep or
a burn severe. And even though
self-harm is not typically thought of
as a precursor to suicide, it can be.
" Self-harm helps someone acquire
the capability to die by suicide, "
Stephens says. " Through practice,
they're becoming acclimated to
that feeling of harming themselves.
We're not wired to hurt ourselves;
we're wired to protect our bodies. "
This is why it's important to take
self-harm seriously. No matter how
difficult the conversation, parents
should confront their child, Groff
Stephens says. " You have to ask
them straight out: 'Are you having
thoughts of killing yourself? If
you have had those thoughts, how
would you do it?' Then you have to
think of safety measures. Remove
firearms, lock away pills and other
potentially harmful items, " she says.

How to Help

What parents should not do: assume
or insinuate that self-harm is all
about the child seeking attention.
" Most often, we see people engage
in self-harm in a way that's discoverable, " Stephens says. " They want
someone to intervene and take
them seriously and say, 'Hey, your
life matters to me. You matter to me.
Let's do something about this emotional pain you're experiencing.' "
For my daughter, counseling
was what she needed to pinpoint
how she was feeling about all of
the changes happening to her and
around her. She has found other
ways to handle her emotions when
she's feeling overwhelmed.
It's been more than a year, and
her scars remain. They may never
fade. But I hope they are reminders
for her that she is strong enough
to rise above, no matter how deep
the hurt. *
VIM & VIGOR SUMMER 2021

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Vim & Vigor - Summer 2021

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