Depression isn’t something that only older adults who have families, careers, and financial troubles face. Teens and young adults can face the despairs and overwhelming, debilitating effects of depression too. In fact, depression in young adults is something that is not only concerning but deadly. Knowing more and spreading awareness about how depression affects our young adult population can help to end stigmas that keep people of this age group from getting help. In this blog, we uncover some of the more uncommonly known facts about depression in young adults to help spread awareness for this mental health issue that our country faces.

Some of the more uncommonly known facts about depression in young adults include:

Depression Leads to Death for Many Young Adults Every Year

Living with depression may include suicidal thoughts and behaviors. This means that young people who are struggling with depression do end their lives due to the effects of this mental health condition. Suicide in people aged 25-24 is the third leading cause of death for people in this age range according to information provided by the National Institutes of Mental Health. And, in the vast majority of these cases, underlying mental health issues like depression are present.

Social Media Can Make Depression Worse

One thing that is often overlooked when it comes to young adults and mental health is social media. But, it should be as social media can present young adults with a number of issues including self-comparison with others which can lead to worsening depression symptoms. Furthermore, social media sites are a place where bullying happens without adult supervision. In the case of bullying, young adults who are struggling with mental health issues like depression may develop worsening symptoms or have more frequent episodes. Finally, social media can actually contribute to the development of depression in young adults as they are faced with the issues that social media presents.

Many Young Adults Don’t Get the Depression Help They Need

Unfortunately, many people who struggle with depression do so in silence. This means that they don’t get the help they need through treatment to be able to identify successful therapies and coping skills necessary to manage symptoms of depression. There are a number of reasons why young adults may not get help including fear of judgment from friends and family, trouble accepting the fact they may be dealing with depression, believing negative stigmas associated with depression and treatment, etc.

Symptoms of Depression Can Include Physical Symptoms

When people think about symptoms of depression, they think about symptoms that are emotional including severe sadness, guilt, shame, feelings of worthlessness, etc. However, depression symptoms aren’t always emotional, they can be physical too. Some of the physical symptoms of depression can include muscle aches and soreness, migraine headaches, and gastrointestinal issues. So, if your young adult loved one is experiencing physical symptoms like these without a known medical diagnosis, it may be a signifier that your loved one is struggling with depression.

Depression Help for Young Adults

Yellowbrick specializes in mental health care specifically for the young adult population. We help young adults and their families better understand mental health conditions like depressive disorders. And, offer treatment approaches that are individually designed for a person’s needs and goals for treatment success. Find out more about the conditions we treat and our treatment facility located in Evanston, IL on our website.