Depression and Suicide among Teenage Mothers
Teenage pregnancy is becoming common nowadays, with single moms increasing in number. Reports claim that among 500,000 teenagers who give birth each year, more than 80% of them end up in poverty. Their children are likely to suffer from poor health, be neglected or abused, and engage in criminal activity.
Depression Leads to Teenage Pregnancy
Teenage pregnancy is not always the cause of depression but it can be a symptom of teenage depression. In a study published in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior, a survey was done using data from tow large long term U.S. surveys that followed thousands of women and girls. Participants of the study answered questions on symptoms that are associated with depression, such as how often they found usually normal things to be bothersome, how they tried to deal with feeling blue or whether they had difficulty concentrating. Results of the study found out that there was a high level of depression among teenage moms, but it did not examine if depression was present before pregnancy. It also showed that when ladies are depressed, there is a high risk for teen pregnancy and vice versa.
One of the reckless activities that depressed teens resort to is the practice of unsafe sex. Teens often seek comfort from their friends, and most of the time, from their boyfriends or girlfriends. They are the ones who are always there and with the influx of hormones, this can lead to unprotected sex.
To avoid these problems, teens should be encouraged to have long-term goals and good self-esteem. Equipped with these characters, then you will be able to think of your future and consider your dreams before jumping into bed with your partner.
Depression is a Leading Cause of Suicide
Teenage suicide is mostly caused by depression. When a depressed teen is overwhelmed, it will create feelings of hopelessness and helplessness. These two things, when felt, often lead you to think about committing suicide. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is the third leading cause of death among 15 to 24 year olds. The following are some signs of suicidal tendencies that should be watched out for:
- talking about committing suicide
- speaking positively about death
- giving out valuable possessions such as jewelry, diaries, and other stuff
- engaging in reckless behavior such as self-inflicted injuries
- saying goodbye to friends and families for good
- writing stories, poems or songs about death
When a depressed teen is showing signs of getting better, do not relax. Look further because the teen may be having already plans on the method of committing suicide. Be upfront in asking your teen about this. Ask directly of any plans of committing suicide. This way, you will get an honest answer, and both of you can find a way of solving the current problem.
Depression often leads to teenage pregnancy among adolescent females. When this is first learned, teens may look for ways to terminate the pregnancy because of fear of their parents. For some, they will deal with this rationally. For others, they will panic, will even succumb more into depression and later on, will commit suicide. Suicide is the biggest thing that is to be avoided in depressed teenagers.
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