Depression Plagues One Out of Five Russian Teenagers

Nearly 20% of Russian teenagers are in the throes of depression.

Alcohol and drug addiction are both symptoms and causes of mental disorder among teenagers, Unicef said.

Depression � A Holistic Approach-Signs, Symptoms and Treatment
Depression is a common disorder and many worldwide suffer from depression. Early recognition of symptoms and signs of depression can help in taking a holistic approach to the management of depression.

Child psychologist Anna Kholmogorova from the Moscow State University of Psychology and Education told RIA Novosti that between 10 and 15 percent of Russian school students have severe depression that requires medical help.

The Unicef report said drug usage among the underage was slowly decreasing but this was offset by children taking up alcohol earlier. The number of officially registered alcoholics under 14 rose by 60 percent in 2000-2009.

Teenaged suicides in Russia also exceeded the global average of 10 cases per 100,000 people aged 15 to 19, the report said.

Adolescent Depression - Causes - Affects - Depressed Teens - Treatment - FAQs
Adolescent depression is an ailment that occurs during the teenage characterized by persistent melancholy, disappointment and loss of self-esteem.

Between 30 and 31 Russians per 100,000 in this age bracket were committing suicides every year in the 2000s, the report said.

Russia was hit by a string of teenaged suicides in the last two weeks, with seven children aged between 12 and 15 taking their lives in separate incidents across the nation.

Depression - Types, Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment
Depression is one of the most common mental disorders affecting approximately 340 million people in the world. No one is immune from depression - it occurs in people of all social classes, all countries and all cultural settings.

Experts said the teenagers could have been following each others' lead, thanks to the media coverage each received.

Overview Suicide
Suicide is an act of ending one's own life and it usually results from emotional isolations and inability to adjust and cope with one's environment.

Source-IANS