Depression is a serious condition that negatively affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. While normal sadness is common in all, but clinical depression is continued and often interferes with a person’s ability to experience or anticipate pleasure and it significantly interferes with functioning in daily life. If untreated, symptoms can last for weeks, months, or years; and if inadequately treated, depression can lead to significant loss, other health-related issues, and in some cases, it can lead to suicide.

Adolescence depression can lead to emotional changes like irritability, low self-esteem, and anger, as well as behavioural changes such as over sleeping, loss of appetite, withdrawal, binge-eating and a decline in academic performance. Treatment options, which should be discussed with a psychologist it can include psychotherapy and, in some cases, medication.

Depression is twice as common among young women as among men. About 20 percent of women will experience at least one episode of depression across their lifetime. Scientists are examining many potential causes for and contributing factors to women’s increased risk for depression. Biological, life cycle, hormonal and psychosocial factors unique to women may be linked to women’s higher depression rates. Researchers have shown, for example, that hormones affect brain chemistry, impacting emotions and mood. Women experience natural hormonal shifts during several key life stages: puberty, menstruation monthly cycle, pregnancy, postpartum (after childbirth), and perimenopause and menopause. More than 50% of children will engage in a form of sexual behaviour before the age of 14 (around puberty), including sexual experiences with other children.

Before adolescence, girls and boys experience depression at about the same frequency. By adolescence, however, girls become more likely to experience depression than boys. Research points to several possible reasons for this imbalance. The biological and hormonal changes that occur during puberty are likely to contribute to the sharp increase in rates of depression among adolescent girls. In addition, research has suggested that girls are more likely than boys to continue feeling bad after experiencing difficult situations or events, suggesting they are more prone to depression.

Adolescence presents challenges related to physical changes, emotions, and social development, including issues with body image, mood swings, and peer pressure. Teens also face risks like substance abuse, early pregnancy and abortion , and violence, as well as mental health concerns like depression and anxiety. Developing a sense of identity and independence is a major focus during this time. Hormonal changes lead to puberty, which can cause self-consciousness about body image, weight, and height.  Adolescents are vulnerable to stress, depression, and anxiety, which can be heightened by hormonal shifts and academic pressure.

A desire for independence and peer approval can lead to risky behaviours like consuming drugs, alcohol, unsafe sex, and violence. Common health issues include mental health problems, early pregnancies due to unsafe sex, sexually transmitted infections, violence, and malnutrition.  Teens feel a strong need to belong to a peer group, which can lead to conformity and risky behaviors to gain acceptance. At adolescents’ youngsters crave for identity and independence.

German-born American psychoanalyst and developmental psychologist best known for his theory of psychosocial development and for coining the term “identity crisis”. He is renowned for his work on human development, which he theorized occurred across the entire lifespan in eight stages. According to Erik Erikson, the teenage years are defined by the fifth stage of development, identity versus role confusion. During this time (ages 12–18), adolescents grapple with the question “Who am I?” by exploring different roles, beliefs, and goals to forge a sense of self. Success leads to a strong identity, while failure can result in a confused sense of self and future.

Adolescents experience intense emotional swings, such as anger, jealousy, and frustration. Majority of the youngsters get attracted to excessive use of electronic devices can contribute to problems with self-esteem, cyber addiction, and even musculoskeletal issues from constant texting, as well as impact school performance and behaviour.  Adolescents face problems with social media including mental health issues like depression and anxiety, cyberbullying, poor body image, sleep disruption, and exposure to harmful content and predators. Excessive use can also lead to a fear of missing out (FOMO), reduced in-person interaction, and difficulty focusing on other activities like schoolwork.

Social media use is linked to higher rates of depression and anxiety, especially with excessive use. The fake social media shows curated versions of others’ lives which can lead to negative feelings about one’s own life and self-worth. The pressure to stay connected, maintain a certain image, and receive approval (likes, comments) can cause significant stress. Constant exposure to others’ leads to anxiety about being excluded from social events or trends.

Adolescents are frequently targets of cyberbullying. Online harassment, which can involve name-calling, rumours, threats, and unwanted explicit content. Social media platforms can expose teens to content like pornography, self-harm depictions, violence, or illegal substances and drugs. Online predators target teenagers who exploit and times extort them.

Careless online activity can lead to long-term reputation damage and make them more vulnerable to marketers and fraudsters. Body shaming, physical and behavioral issues, sleep disruption due to using social media before bed, especially with blue light from screens, can disrupt sleep patterns and delay melatonin release. Children get sluggish because of bad junk food consumption and decreased physical activity their body clock goes haywire. Time spent on social media often displaces time that could be spent on physical exercise and other healthy activities.

Conclusion

Though depression affects people of all ages, teenagers are at a high risk, with recent estimates suggesting that up to one in five adolescents may experience depression. This is a major public health concern, with depression being one of the leading causes of illness and disability in this age group, notes the World Health Organization. Several factors contribute to this, including a combination of genetic, biological changes like hormonal changes, and environmental factors, such as stressful life events, family history, and peer issues. Adolescent health requires directed attention from parents, family, teachers and society due to their vulnerability to risky behaviours. In India, overall, 39.7% of students experienced persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness, 28.5% experienced poor mental health, 20.4% seriously considered attempting suicide, and 9.5% attempted suicide. Overall, the teenagers and early twenties behaviours need attention. I have written this passage because of my experience as a teacher of Management Studies for past 24 years. 

1. 1. Trust vs Mistrust 0-18 months: This is the first stage of human development. The child builds trust in this stage. Infants develop based upon the quality their caregivers give them to meet their basic needs. If these needs are not consistently met, they develop suspicion, distrust, and anxiety. The basic virtue in this stage is hope. According to Erikson, the trust versus mistrust stage is the most important period in a person’s life because it shapes a child’s views of the world perpetually.
2. Autonomy vs Shame 18 months –3 years: Autonomy versus shame is the second stage of Erik Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development. This stage takes place between the ages of 18 months to around age to 3 years. According to Erikson, children at this stage are focused on developing a greater sense of self-control. The child in this stage tries to become self reliant. The basic virtue in this stage is will. In this stage a child develops a sense of personal identity which continues to influence his/her ego identity and development for the rest of life.
3. Initiative vs Guilt 3 – 5 years: During the initiative versus guilt stage, children begin to assert their power and control over the world expressing it in their play and other social interaction. The basic virtue in this step is purpose. They start exploring lot of things. During this stage, it is important for caregivers to encourage their exploration and to help children make appropriate choices. Caregivers who discourage or act unresponsive may cause children to feel ashamed of themselves and this may affect them in overly depending upon the help of others.
4. Industry vs inferiority 5-12 years: This stage occurs during childhood between the ages of five and twelve. The virtue in this stage is competence. Children at this stage learn to read and write, do homework, to do sums, to do things on their own. School and social interaction play an important role during this time of a child’s life. A child’s social world expands considerably as they enter school and gain new friendships with peers. Through social interactions, children begin to develop a sense of pride in their accomplishments and abilities.

Kids who do well in school are more likely to develop a sense of competence and confidence. Children who struggle with schoolwork may have a harder time developing feeling of confidence. They tend to feel inadequacy and develop inferiority complex.

5. Identity vs Role Confusion 12-18 years:  During this stage of adolescence children explore their independence and develop a sense of self. In this stage success leads to an ability to stay true to oneself, while failure leads to confusion and a weak self image. Children who don’t have a strong sense of their own identitycan easily get influenced by others. This stage is crucial because if the children get wrongly influenced they get into drug addiction, gambling and other dire habits.  The virtue in this stage is fidelity.
6. Intimacy vs Isolation 18-40 years: The major concern which arises in minds of humans at this stage is of love and intimacy in relationships with other people. Isolation, occurs when a person fails to find a partner and fulfil the urge of sexual intimacy. If they don’t find a partner, they feel lonely and inferior. The basic virtue at this stage is love.

At this stage human build romantic relationships. Erikson believed that close friendships are also important to people at this stage. They develop close, committed relationships with other people. These emotionally intimate relationships in adulthood play critical role in the intimacy versus isolation stage. Besides romantic relationships, friendship plays a vital role at his stage; closeness, honesty, friendship and love are most required for a nourished life.

7. Generativity vs Stagnation 40-65 years: This is the seventh of stage of Erik Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development. This stage occurs during middle adulthood. The term generativity was coined by Erikson which refers to establishing an ethnicity/a culture/ a base which will guide the next generation. Generativity also refers to “making your mark” on the world through creating or nurturing things that will outlast an individual. A generative person instigates a change. The virtue in stage is care.
8. Ego Integrity vs Despair 65 onwards years: Erikson identified that at this stage a person faces internal conflict which involves reflecting on one’s life and feeling either satisfied and happy with one’s life or feeling of deep sense of regret. Basic virtue in this stage is wisdom.

Change is the essence of life; is a process of emerging, adapting shifting and moving ahead.