More and more teens are depressed

More and more young people are suffering from depression.

(27.06.2010) Depression has long since affected not only adults. According to the Ludwig Maximilians University, more and more adolescents are suffering from depression.

More and more adolescents suffer from depression. According to youth researcher Heiner Keupp of the Munich Ludwig-Maximilians University, the number of depressed adolescents has increased rapidly in recent years. Above all, young people from low-income families and young people with a migrant background are affected. So Keupp said: "It is remarkable that we now have a significant increase in young adults and adolescents". So far, especially the elderly or patients with a chronic illness were affected. Teenagers with depression are not or hardly noticed. Unless, according to the youth researchers, they undertake a suicide attempt. "Then we are again totally shocked and surprised," said the researchers to the dpa.

According to the official child and youth report of the Federal Government, around 20 percent of children and adolescents in Germany suffer from mental or physical illnesses. According to scientist Keupp, depression is more common among low-income or immigrant families. Many young people do not share the experience of belonging to society due to poverty or ethnic background. Many lead this feeling into their own shell.

In the past, the depressive syndrome was more commonly diagnosed in girls. "Meanwhile, the boys in the psychosocial problems, the girls caught up," said Keupp during an event of the SPD. Many boys are "disoriented" because more and more girls have won free space. Often male adolescents can no longer cope due to progressive role models. It builds up a contrast between aspiration and reality. In addition, the society with high expectations overwhelmed the young people, the "leads to more children and young people can not cope with the pressure." said the chairman of the commission of experts of the most recent child and youth report. The young people feel left alone and face ever-increasing demands. The young people feel increasingly exhausted, a depression is then not far away. (Sb)