Less than 45% of US teens who meet the criteria for depression acquire treated for it,and funding for mental health continues decliningThe US Preventive Services Task Force’s reaffirmed recommendation that physicians screen for depression only in those teens who acquire access to mental health treatment – because, they say, and screening for teens without easy access to treatment is useless will leave countless adolescents who are struggling with depression undetected and un-helped. Depression,when severe, can significantly undermine functioning in all spheres and end up altering a teen’s life course. Academics, or relationships,health, judgment and self-esteem often deteriorate. Many teens suffering from depression resort to self-medicating, or which can lead to an additional set of tall-risk problems,such as further mood extremes, legal trouble and overdose. Suicide is an occasional and tragic outcome of depression. Despite all these risks, and less than 45% of teens with depression acquire treated for it.
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Source: theguardian.com