INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Being a teen is not as easy as you think, it is the time when everything becomes more
complicated. It is the time when one demands attention because confusion and sadness takes
over. In this stage of their life, teens tend to question themselves about self-worth or their
purpose in life. As this feeling doesn’t stop, there will be a point where depression will take
over. Depression is a state in which a person feels very sad, hopeless, and unimportant and
often unable to live in a normal way. Nowadays, the youth are very prone to depression due
to many factors that can affect their emotional, mental, psychological state of mind in their
everyday life especially being a student. But it depends on certain teenagers on how he or
she handles it. Unlike adults, teenagers usually don’t know how to deal with problems in life
that’s why when they encounter simple problems they will react negatively. They treat
problems like a difficult one and think that there is no solution or way out of it.

According to Global School Based Health Survey (2012), seventeen percent (17%) of
high school students, 13-15 years old said they attempted suicide at least once, twelve
percent (12%) said they seriously considered attempting suicide, and eleven (11%) percent
have plans on how they would commit suicide from January to March 2012. Moreover,
according to ABS-CBN Research and Investigative Group (2012), 3.3 million Filipinos suffer
from depressive disorders, 3.1 million suffers from anxiety disorder, and a total of 2,558
reported suicide cases. They also said that nearly 8 in 10 of reported suicide cases in 2012
were males. The researchers chose this topic because as a teenager, we know what it feels
like to be depressed and it is not easy. The researchers also believe that this study is
important in order to help teenagers cope up with this life-threatening condition, giving
them advices to lessen their burden so that they will feel lighter to be able to overcome their
depression easily. The researchers aim to inform everyone that depression is something that
should never be ignored.

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Objectives of the Study

The primary purpose of this study is to determine the factors that causes depression
among teenagers. This objective will give solutions as to what causes teenagers to be
emotionally compromised that lead them in to depressive state. This study also aims to
identify the effects of depression among teenagers. And lastly, to recommend some advices
to help teenagers cope up with depression. This study will utilized an article or news- based
source in order to attain the objectives of this study. This study will also provide information
to people especially who’s suffering from depression to become aware of what depression
may bring to their lives.

Significance of the Study

The result of this study will provide significant information to the following people:
first would be teenagers suffering from depression since if they will know about this study,
this would help them cope up with depression and guide them not to dwell on something
that would lead them to their depressive state. Second would be the parents of teenagers
suffering from depression. This study would help them guide their children in avoiding the
factors that contribute to the depression of their child. This would also enable parents to
make their children do something that could keep them from thinking things that would
distract their thoughts, emotions, feelings and perspective about depression. And lastly this
study can motivate future researchers to conduct a study about depression, its factors and
effects to the overall health of teenagers and this study that can be used as a basis or source
of information on how to cope up with depression.

Definition of Terms

To ensure a clear understanding of this study, the key terms used in this study are
defined conceptually.

Anxiety - a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent

event or something with an uncertain outcome (Merriam Webster’s Dictionary, 2012).

Chronic Illness - is a long-term health condition that may not have a cure and persists
over a long period of time (MedlinePlus, 2019).

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 Compromised - lacking adequate resistance to infection, or lacking the ability to
mount an adequate immune response, owing to a course of treatment (Medical Dictionary,
2018).

Depressive state - is a period of two weeks or longer in which a person experiences

certain symptoms of major depression (Merriam Webster’s Dictionary, 2012).

Fatigue - is a term used to describe an overall feeling of tiredness or lack of energy

(Healthline, 2019).

Insomnia - is a sleep disorder that is characterized by difficulty falling and/or staying

asleep (WebMD, 2019).

Isolation - the condition of being separated (APA Dictionary of Psychology, 2019)

Mental Health - a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own
abilities, copes with the normal stresses of life, works productively and fruitfully, and makes
contributions to the community (WHO, 1999)

Ostracism - exclusion from a society or group (Merriam Webster’s Dictionary, 2012).

Social Cliques - a group of 2 to 12 (averaging 5 or 6) "who interact with each other

more regularly and intensely than others in the same setting (Merriam Webster’s Dictionary,
2012).

Suicide - is the act of killing yourself, most often as a result of depression or other
mental illness (American Psychological Association, 2018).

Teenager - is the part of life between 12 and 19. It is also known as adolescence
(Quora, 2015)

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 MAIN BODY

Depression is defined as a mentally unstable and the emotional state marked by

sadness, discouragement, and loss that can occur during a teenage years. Depression causes
changes in behavior, thinking and especially changes in a person everyday life. According to
Comandante and Domingo (2016), depression amongst teens generally starts when a child
hits puberty, but could possibly begin the day they were born if chemically imbalanced.
Depression can affect anyone, anytime, and anywhere. Teens, children, and adults are all
affected. Some even have the same problems in common. Depression is experienced mostly
by teens even though it is mistakenly classified as an “adult illness”. Studies show that
“Twenty percent of high school students are deeply unhappy or have some kind of
psychiatric problem.”

The causes for depression in teens are sometimes more harsh than the causes in
adults. In a teen’s lifetime, they have to face many problems and sometimes they have to face
these problems more than once. Teens have to deal with peer pressure problems at school,
problems at home, the deaths of loved ones, and if they are already using drugs this could
also be a cause. Many teens also have to deal with anxiety some point in their life when they
wonder if they are attractive to other people of the opposite sex. If they do believe that they
are unattractive they will most likely feel as though they have failed at something. Then they
will act as if they do not care anymore, then the uncaring attitude increases until they no
longer care about much at all. Depression also comes after a teenager is trying to learn about
himself or herself and understand their body, and their emotions towards others.

Factors Causing Depression

Latest available data on the Philippines recorded by the WHO, reported over 2,000
cases of suicide from 2000 to 2012 ages 15 to 29 years old which is due to depression.
Adolescents who suffer from teen depression are statistically much more likely to attempt
suicide, so it is essential for parents and teachers to know how to spot the signs of teen
depression and know what causes the disorder. According to Brames (2018) the following
guide will discuss the most common reasons or factors that leads to teenage depression:

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1. Social Ostracism

Teens who are socially ostracized from their peers are far more likely to experience
depression. Adolescence is a time of uncertainty in which social acceptance provides a solid
foundation for the teen’s self-image. Teens who are accepted by their peers generally
develop healthier self-esteems than those who are isolated and excluded from social groups.
Teens tend to form social cliques and exclude anyone outside them, which can make it even
harder for isolated teens to find acceptance. Almost all teenagers experience some level of
doubt about their own appearance, intelligence, popularity, and worth as a person.
Depressed teens may feel that the rejection they face from peers is a sign that they lack
personal worth, therefore worsening the symptoms of depression and increasing feelings of
isolation.

2. Major Life Changes

As much as teens can be rebellious, major life changes are even more stressful in
adolescence than in adult life. Any drastic shifts in the home environment, such as moving,
divorce, remarriage, or adoption, can trigger the symptoms of depression. If your teen begins
showing warning signs of depression shortly after a major life change, monitor your
adolescent closely. If the symptoms last longer than a few weeks, it is very likely that the teen
is suffering from clinical depression.

3. Low Self-Esteem

In addition to bouts of low self-esteem caused by peer rejection, teen depression can
be fueled by a general lack of self-worth. Some teens may experience such low self-worth
that they develop dysmorphic disorders. Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) occurs when a
person literally sees his or her physical appearance as hideous, even when appearing normal
or attractive to others. Anorexia and bulimia are two other forms of dysmorphia, both
revolving around an incorrect perception that one’s body is extremely obese. Anorexic or
bulimic teens may look in the mirror and see themselves as significantly heavier persons
even as they continue to lose an unhealthy amount of weight. It is important to be able to
spot the differences between normal teenage feelings of awkwardness and truly low self-
esteem. Without a healthy self-esteem, the symptoms of teen depression will only get worse.

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4. Bullying

Bullying is one of the major causes of teen depression. Bullies are often insecure teens
themselves, and many bullies suffer from teen depression as well. Certain teens are more at
risk of being bullied than others, including LGBT teens and teens with special needs. Being
perceived as different from the majority peer group is one of the main reasons for depression
in teens, and bullies tend to target teens who are different from them in some way. It is
important for parents and school officials to look out for the warning signs that a teen is
being bullied based on his or her race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or religion. Just
because a teen has one or more risk factors for bullying does not mean that action needs to
be taken, but it does mean that the adults in the teen’s life should look for signs that there is
a problem at school.

5. Problems at Home

Problems in the home, particularly those between a teen and his or her parents, are
some of the most common reasons for depression in teens. During puberty, teens begin to
spread their wings and seek independence from their parents, and the most important
relationships in those teens’ lives may shift from familial relationships to peer relationships,
which can cause tension between teens and their parents. Sometimes this tension leads to
family dysfunction and, in severe cases, abuse. If teens are being abused, verbally or
physically, their chances of suffering from depression begin to rise. Abused teens may feel
helpless and out of control of their home life. School is a stressful environment for most
teens, so problems at home may leave those with teen depression feeling as if they have
nowhere safe to rest and recharge. It is essential to sort out problems in the home as soon as
symptoms of teen depression arise.

6. Genetic Depression

Sometimes, teen depression is caused by a genetic predisposition to depression and

other mental illnesses. Depression is strongly hereditary, and it is possible for the disorder
to skip generations. Even if no one in the immediate family has suffered from depression, a
genetic predisposition may still be the primary cause of depression. Unfortunately, there are
still many stigmas surrounding it, so genetic depression is often an unspoken occurrence in

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families. Teens struggling with depression may feel isolated from their friends and family or
as if they are the only ones experiencing depression. One of the best ways to deal with teen
depression is for families to be open and honest about genetic depression. Teens may feel
that the depression is their fault, so knowing that the disorder can be attributed to a cause
beyond their control can be a freeing and encouraging experience.

7. Drug and Alcohol Abuse

In many cases, teen depression is caused or worsened by drug and alcohol abuse.
Teens often find occasion to drink at parties, at friends’ houses, and even at school. The
pressure to drink and experiment with drugs can be overwhelming, and even the most well-
behaved teens may eventually give in to that pressure. Drinking and drug use creates a
feedback loop in which teens become depressed because of their substance abuse, increase
their use of substances to cope, and then become more depressed. It is important for parents
to learn to spot the signs of depression early and speak with their teens about healthy coping
mechanisms. Many teens are uneducated about the dangerous effects of drug use and
underage drinking. The areas of the brain that regulate judgment and reason are not fully
formed in teenagers, so even teens who are aware of the risks associated with drug use may
experiment anyway.

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Effects of Depression

Depression is a major source of the burden of disease throughout the world. In much
of the developing world, however, depression is largely unexplored as a research topic. A
social mapping revealed that, even though the mental disorder has been recognized as a
research priority, only a sparse number of relevant studies have been carried out in low- and
middle-income countries. Roughly 60% of these countries have contributed fewer than five
articles to the international mental health indexed literature.

As far back as 1997, the World Health Organization (WHO) considered that
depression was the second greatest cause of disability in the world. In this research nearly a
quarter of a million people in 60 countries were studied. After allowing for socioeconomic
factors and other health conditions, depression had the largest effect on worsening health,
and people with depression in addition to another chronic illness had the worst health
measures of all disease states. One in every 10 Filipinos between 15 and 24 years old
admitted to being depressed in a survey conducted by the University of the Philippines
Population Institute and the Demographic Research and Development Foundation. But only
1 in every 3 depressives seek help, according to the Department of Health. The rest either
bear the symptoms in silence too embarrassed to seek help or continue to suffer from
depression without knowing it.

2013 2014 2015 2016

Causes of Death Total Total Total Total
Total 88 119 58 133
Mild depressive episode 1 1 0 0
Moderate depressive episode 0 0 0 0
Severe depressive episode without psychotic symptoms 9 12 27 0
Severe depressive episode with psychotic symptoms 2 3 2 1
Other depressive episodes 0 0 0 0
Depressive episode, unspecified 76 103 29 132
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority, Civil Registration Service, Vital Statistics Division

Table 1. Number of Deaths due to Depression Year 2013-2016

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 National Poison Management and Control Center (NPMCC) of the Philippine General
Hospital reported that 46 percent of the total suicide cases recorded since 2010 are from the
youth. The report showed that 30% of those who committed suicide are young adults aged
20 to 35 years old while the remaining 16% are teens aged 10 to 19 years old. While the rate
of youth suicide in the country was relatively low compared to neighboring countries in the
region, the bad news is that the suicide rates in the country have been on the rise.

Short Term Effects

According to Illiades (2019), depression can significantly impact individual’s life if left
untreated. Depression affects a person’s feeling, thoughts that can be seen in their behaviors.
A person who is struggling with depression doesn’t have the energy to enjoy things to make
their day productive that influences negatively to the way they act upon situations. There’s
a short term and the long term effects of depression on the individual. Effects can range from
minor to death or committing suicide. The following are the most common short term effects
of depression:

1. Eating too much and not eating too much

Both eating too much and not eating too much can be the effect of depression. Some
people with depression have a loss of appetite, while others increases the amount of food
they eat that lead to a sudden losing or gaining weight. A depressed person lose interest and
energy because they are engulf with sadness that’s why they don’t have appetite to eat or
they lose interest to eat. On the other hand, the feeling of sadness and worthlessness can
make a person to over eat. "Depression can also result in emotional eating, a common event
in which the need to eat is not associated with physical hunger," says Debra J. Johnston, RD,
culinary services manager at Remuda Ranch, an eating disorder treatment center in
Wickenburg, Ariz. "Instead, emotional eating is eating in response to emotional hunger.
When patients eat in response to their emotions, they are soothed by the food as it changes
the chemical balance in the brain, produces a feeling of fullness that is more comfortable than
an empty stomach, and improves mood through positive association with happier times."

2. Insomnia and hypersomnia

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 A depressed person often have a sleep disorder. While others cannot sleep well
(Insomnia) because there are things stuck in their head that keep them haunting to sleep,
others sleep too much (Hypersomnia) because for them that’s the way in order to escape
form the reality or from the problems, sleep give them comfort and give them their own
world or paradise where they can find happiness and pleasure.

3. Fatigue

People with depression more likely experience fatigue. They are like a walking
zombie that don’t have the strength to even walk properly. Fatigue is associated with
insomnia and the loss of appetite. Sleep and food give a person energy to do their daily
routine, when one cannot sleep well and eat well they don’t have the energy to perform their
daily activities. Hypersomnia also causes fatigue, even if a person with depression is getting
enough sleep, they may not wake up feeling refreshed because the quality of sleep is often
lower than that experienced by a person who does not have depression (Barhum, 2018).

Long Term Effects

Many teenagers have prolonged depression or untreated depression that leads to a

serious or long term effect on the individual. Short term effects also if not treated can develop
into a long term effect. The following are the most common long term effect of teenage
depression:

1. Social and emotional isolation

Isolation is being separated from others and absence of social relationship. A

depressed person isolate himself form the others because he want to avoid the interaction
with people, wants to be alone or he have a fear of at the idea of socializing. They tend to
isolate themselves because they think that people only worsen their feeling and that people
cannot understand them. They also think in advance that people will abandon them so they
will isolate their selves before they will be abandon. Along with social isolation, there is also
an emotional isolation. In emotional isolation, one is not willing to share what he or she feels
inside because of the mindset that no one can understand him or her. Emotional isolation
can be also due to social isolation, when one is isolated socially they may feel that there’s a

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barrier that separates them form the others emotionally and physically. Social and emotional
isolation are also an act to protect their selves form other people.

2. Self-harming behaviors

A behavior in which a person do hurt themselves physically, it is not a suicide attempt

but an act to cope up with their feelings. Example of self-harm are cutting their wrist or
thighs, burning and overdose. As they harm their selves, they feel temporary pleasure and
relief. Teenagers harm their selves to get out the pain, sadness and hurt they feel inside
caused by depression. For them, self-harm is the only way they could do to ease the pain and
heal their feelings and they don’t know other options or solution to their problems except
self-harm.

3. Suicide

Suicide is one of the leading cause of death among young people and commonly,
depression causes suicide. Depression is a temporary state or problem that can be solved,
but a depressed person thinks that the only way to end depression is death which is a
permanent that’s why they commit suicide.

According to the NHS (2009) mental disorders, particularly depression and substance
abuse, are associated with more than 90% of all cases of suicide. Some of the warning signs
that people with depression are considering suicide are described by the NHS (2009):

a. Making final arrangements - such as giving away possessions, making a will or saying
goodbye to friends;

b. Talking about death or suicide - this may be a direct statement, such as “I wish I was
dead”, but often depressed people will talk about the subject indirectly, using phrases like, “I
think dead people must be happier than us”, or “wouldn't it be nice to go to sleep and never
wake up”;

c. Self-harm - such as cutting their arms or legs, or burning themselves with cigarettes;

d. A sudden lifting of mood - this could mean that a person has decided to commit suicide
and feels better because of this decision.

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Table 2. Mental Health Among High School Students Aged 13-15 Years Old GSHS
Philippines, 2003-2015

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Figure 1. Infographic Showing the Statistics of the Mental Health of Filipinos (ABS-
CBN Investigative Research Group, 2015)

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Figure 2. Infographic showing the statistics of the mental health of Teenage Filipinos
(ABS-CBN Investigative Research Group, 2015)

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Ways to Cope Up with Depression

The Philippines holds the highest number of depressed people in Southeast Asia, with
one in five adult Filipinos suffering from a mental or psychiatric disorder. Depression,
however, chooses no age or social status. Talking about depression with a classmate can be
difficult, but the worst thing you can do is to ignore his or her situation. According to
Datlangin (2017), these are the ways to help raise awareness for Mental Health Month and
to reach out to a student with depression:

1. Learn the facts about depression.

Years have passed since Joey de Leon made his controversial remark on depression
while hosting the noontime show Eat Bulaga. “‘Yung depression, gawa-gawa lang ng mga tao
yan. Gawa nila sa sarili nila (Depression is just made up by people),” De Leon said. Depression
is highly stigmatized in ways like this despite its high prevalence rates. Most of the time, this
outlook is caused by a lack of information. Know the basics about it — the signs, symptoms,
causes, and treatment.

2. Be willing to listen.

You are not your friend’s therapist. At times, the best help you can give is to be there
to listen without judgement. Depression is a clinical illness, and telling someone to “just snap
out of it” is problematic. According to Brehm (2016), a mental health advocate on The
Huffington Post, writes:

“Sometimes you try to reach out for a lifeline — for a breath of fresh air — but other
people can’t see this shadow properly. They don’t know how it sits heavy on your limbs,
pushing you backwards with every step. They don’t know how it makes you cry hot tears,
even when you don’t want to.”

It can be very difficult to understand what depression feels like because of a vast
collection of causes and experiences. However, it doesn’t take much to empathize with a
depressed friend. How would he or she feel while talking to you?

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3. Extend a helping hand.

In a research paper on student depression written by Tristan Yuvienco, academic life

turned out to be the biggest contributor to “depressed feelings” among college students in
Metro Manila. Heavy workloads, isolation, and lack of support may all make a big impact on
mental health in a highly academic environment. These factors can lead to burnout — the
physical and mental collapse due to stress — and overwhelm. Offer to help out with
requirements and projects (but not to the extent of self-neglect). A sincere effort can give a
sense of calm in the frenzy of school life.

4. Encourage enjoyable activities.

A game of cards or a break at the cafeteria can go a long way in boosting endorphins,
the natural pain- and stress-fighters in the brain. An increase in these chemicals can be
greatly beneficial for tackling depression. Invite a depressed friend from time to time to do
the things he or she loves. However, don’t be insistent if the answer is no. You might
overwhelm the other person even if your intentions were focused elsewhere.

5. Do not neglect yourself.

While reaching out to someone with depression, stay on track with your own life.
Practice self-care daily — there is no shame putting your needs first. If the pressure of trying
to help builds up on you, seek support from others as well. Self-care can be as simple as
taking time to rest, unplug or de-clutter. Building new habits like writing in a journal or
sleeping at least seven hours every night can help greatly in the long run. Whatever happens,
do not give up in helping another with depression. Continue advocating for the good of
mental health. Keep educating others to beat the stigma and misconceptions surrounding
mental illness. Now is always a good time to reach out. Give more hugs. Stay in touch. Honor
their emotions. Remind them that they are not alone.

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Figure 3. Schematic Diagram Showing the Factors, Effects, and Ways to Cope up with
Teenage Depression (Objectives of the Study)

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 CONCLUSION

Depression is an important and most common condition that causes a lot of suffering
and consequences. The longer it is left untreated, the greater will be its consequences and
effect and sometimes the effect is permanent such as death. Knowing the true meaning of the
word depression can help us know why we need to put our attention into it. Depression is a
threat to teenagers who are considered as vulnerable in key population. The risk factors and
the effects of depression educate us, will guide us and give us hint on how we deal with
depression, and help us create possible non-pharmacologic treatment for teenagers who
have depression.

Based on the information gathered and stated above in this study, the researchers
conclude that the three objectives of this study namely: factors that cause depression, its
effects and the ways to cope up with depression are met and attained. To conclude,
depression is an awful disease that must come to an end. Moreover, it affects many teenagers.
Depression has numerous symptoms, these symptoms should be noticed as soon as they
show and teenagers should seek immediate help to prevent depression. Teenagers, who have
an ambition to cease depression, should consider the presented solution since it will help in
curing them. Teens should comprehend that depression is a mental disorder that might ruin
their lives forever. Therefore, they should implement the given solution in order to diminish
depression’s negative effects. Adolescents should seek treatments because it will definitely
help them heal. However, awareness should be increased on all social levels to enlighten
teenagers who suffer from depression. Depression is a severe problem that should be
immediately addressed.

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 IMPLICATION

The understanding gained from this study is expected to be useful in planning specific
intervention programs for teenagers at risk of mental health problems. Interventions
including counselling, if properly planned, will help children to perceive and interpret
stressful events in a healthy way, to have a positive attitude towards life and its never ending
problems and to prevent possible maladjustments and other negative consequences that
may interfere with their physical and mental development.

RECOMMENDATION

On the bases of the findings and conclusion of the study, the following
recommendations are advised:

1. A study can be conduct to understand the nature and extent of different provisions of
support, provided to the teenagers, especially by family, schools and community in
relation to depression.
2. Since this study is an article-based study in gathering the results and information, a
similar study can be conducted by using a larger sample, with proportional
representation of age, sex and education of adolescents.
3. A study can also be conducted using questionnaire and survey forms to fully know
the reason behind every teen’s depression. Using this type of approach can provide
useful data in the prevention and coping mechanisms of teenagers suffering from
depression.
4. This study can be further explained and clarified since this study lacks vital data
necessary for the determination of various causes, symptoms and effects of
depression. This study can provide beneficial and useful information to future
researchers and researches since the information gathered in this study is based on
past researches and articles related to depression.

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