Normal Bad Mood or Depression?
2020-01-21
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1From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report.
2The transition from childhood to the teenage years can be a difficult time.
3Hormones in the body can affect a young person's emotions and moods.
4As children grow they usually want to pull away from parents and develop their own personality.
5So, they may talk or act differently as a teenager.
6For example, a 15-year-old who used to have a friendly personality can turn irritable.
7A 16-year-old who once enjoyed spending time with her family may choose to stay in her room alone.
8While these changes in behavior and personality can be difficult, they are for the most part a normal part of the teenage years.
9When is a change in personality a sign of depression or other mental health issues?
10Many parents may not know the difference.
11A recent poll shows that many Americans do not recognize signs of depression in their preteen and teenage children.
12The C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health involved 819 adults in the United States.
13These men and women had at least one child in middle school, junior high or high school.
14Researchers asked these parents about their roles and the roles of schools in recognizing youth depression.
15The Mott Poll is a project of the Susan B. Meister Child Health Evaluation and Research Center at the University of Michigan.
16In a story on the poll, the Reuters news agency reports that a majority of parents were sure "they would recognize depression in their preteen or teenager."
17However, two-thirds of parents admitted they had issues identifying "signs and symptoms of this mental health disorder."
18Sarah Clark is a co-director of the study.
19She notes these transitions can make it "challenging to understand a child's emotional state" and "whether there is possible depression."
20Clark adds that "in many families, the preteen and teen years" bring major changes.
21These changes happen both in youth behavior and the ways in which parents and children interact.
22Some questions in the survey asked the parents about suicide.
23One in four said their child knows a peer or classmate with depression.
24One in 10 reported their child knows a peer or classmate who died by suicide.
25In the United States, youth suicide rates continue to rise.
26Among people ages 10 to 24 years old, the suicide rate increased 56% between 2007 and 2017.
27These numbers come from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
28If you think a young person is depressed and is thinking of suicide, what can you do?
29The CDC offers the following suggestions:
30If you are worried about someone, ask them directly, "Are you thinking about suicide?"
31However, mental health experts warn that you should not promise to keep their thoughts of suicide a secret.
32After you ask this question, make sure to listen carefully to the young person.
33Stay with them and listen to what they need.
34Follow up on the person's condition.
35Continue to check on them to see how they are doing.
36If you do not live with them, you could physically visit them often as well as call them.
37Let them know you are there for them and they are not alone.
38Take away anything that the person could use to cause self-harm.
39This could include anything from medications to weapons.
40Health experts at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health note that this is an important way to prevent suicide.
41People who are suicidal need professional help.
42But they are often unable or unwilling to find it themselves.
43So, find a mental health expert or organization that can help them.
44Many have telephone hotlines for people seeking help.
45And that is the Health & Lifestyle report.
46I'm Anna Matteo.
1From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report. 2The transition from childhood to the teenage years can be a difficult time. Hormones in the body can affect a young person's emotions and moods. 3As children grow they usually want to pull away from parents and develop their own personality. So, they may talk or act differently as a teenager. 4For example, a 15-year-old who used to have a friendly personality can turn irritable. A 16-year-old who once enjoyed spending time with her family may choose to stay in her room alone. 5While these changes in behavior and personality can be difficult, they are for the most part a normal part of the teenage years. 6But when is it not normal? When is a change in personality a sign of depression or other mental health issues? 7Many parents may not know the difference. A recent poll shows that many Americans do not recognize signs of depression in their preteen and teenage children. 8The C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health involved 819 adults in the United States. These men and women had at least one child in middle school, junior high or high school. 9Researchers asked these parents about their roles and the roles of schools in recognizing youth depression. 10The Mott Poll is a project of the Susan B. Meister Child Health Evaluation and Research Center at the University of Michigan. 11In a story on the poll, the Reuters news agency reports that a majority of parents were sure "they would recognize depression in their preteen or teenager." However, two-thirds of parents admitted they had issues identifying "signs and symptoms of this mental health disorder." 12Sarah Clark is a co-director of the study. She notes these transitions can make it "challenging to understand a child's emotional state" and "whether there is possible depression." 13Clark adds that "in many families, the preteen and teen years" bring major changes. These changes happen both in youth behavior and the ways in which parents and children interact. 14Suicide rates 15Some questions in the survey asked the parents about suicide. 16One in four said their child knows a peer or classmate with depression. One in 10 reported their child knows a peer or classmate who died by suicide. 17In the United States, youth suicide rates continue to rise. Among people ages 10 to 24 years old, the suicide rate increased 56% between 2007 and 2017. These numbers come from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 18What can you do to help? 19If you think a young person is depressed and is thinking of suicide, what can you do? The CDC offers the following suggestions: 20Ask 21If you are worried about someone, ask them directly, "Are you thinking about suicide?" However, mental health experts warn that you should not promise to keep their thoughts of suicide a secret. 22Listen 23After you ask this question, make sure to listen carefully to the young person. Stay with them and listen to what they need. 24Be there 25Follow up on the person's condition. Continue to check on them to see how they are doing. If you do not live with them, you could physically visit them often as well as call them. Let them know you are there for them and they are not alone. 26Keep them safe 27Take away anything that the person could use to cause self-harm. This could include anything from medications to weapons. Health experts at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health note that this is an important way to prevent suicide. 28Find help 29People who are suicidal need professional help. But they are often unable or unwilling to find it themselves. So, find a mental health expert or organization that can help them. Many have telephone hotlines for people seeking help. 30And that is the Health & Lifestyle report. 31I'm Anna Matteo. 32________________________________________________________________ 33Words in This Story 34transition - n. a change from one state or condition to another 35hormone - n. a natural substance that is produced in the body and that influences the way the body grows or develops 36mood - n. an emotional state of mind or feeling 37irritable - adj. fiery or testy; easy to anger 38poll - n. a public opinion study 39symptom - n. a change in the body or mind which indicates that a disease is present 40role - n. expected behavior 41peer - n. someone of equal standing 42check - v. to ask around; to inspect or examine 43hotline - n. a direct telephone line for getting help in an emergency; a telephone service available to the public for some specific purpose