Depression is a natural human emotional response to life. When the manifestations of depression become more and more severe, lasting at least two weeks, and since then, it has markedly affected activities of living, studying and working.
1. What is the current state of depression among young people?
Depressive disorder is a common disorder among young people today, especially adolescents. This condition is more common in girls than boys with a ratio of 3:1, especially in girls with a high risk of early puberty.
According to estimates of the World Health Organization, by 2020, depression will be the second disease causing harm to human health, after cardiovascular disease. In particular, depression in Vietnam is currently on the rise, especially among younger people. Previously, most people with depression were between the ages of 50 and 65, but now depression tends to increase between the ages of 15 and 27.
In medical facilities, the number of people suffering from depression increases by 20-30% per year. According to a study by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), about 8-29% of adolescents in Vietnam have mental health problems. It is estimated that Vietnam has at least 3 million young people with mental health problems.
However, the number of people receiving the necessary medical support and intervention is very small, only about 20%. Depression is one of the reasons for the increase in the number of suicides in Vietnam. It is estimated that every year tens of thousands of people commit suicide due to depression, 2.5 times more than the number of people who die from traffic accidents.
Depression in young people is caused by many factors. For example, genetic factors, environment, psychological trauma, academic pressure or school violence, etc.
The symptoms of depression in young people are also easy to recognize: Children often feel sad, empty, angry, irritable, frustrated with only very minor problems; frequent fatigue, loss of interest or pleasure in previously enjoyed activities; have pessimistic thoughts about the future, feel hopeless, anxious, agitated or restless.
In particular, young people with depression will feel low self-esteem, low self-esteem, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, guilt towards relatives and friends; inability to sleep, poor quality sleep or, conversely, sleeping too much; Worse yet, c has thoughts of death, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts, or suicide.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2019, one person dies by suicide every 40 seconds in the world. In 2011, WHO also predicted that by 2030, depression will be the leading cause of disability globally.
For young people with depression, the above symptoms can be hidden, difficult to recognize. Instead, children often tend to be rebellious, refusing to listen and accept opinions from people. Along with that is the act of protesting against the actions mentioned by the adults, there is always a sense of precaution that wants to be alienated from everyone.
Especially when children feel attacked by words or actions, there will be a phenomenon of rebellion, wanting to protest and stop receiving information. These signs cause children to be misunderstood as “rebellion of the wet age”.
2. What role does family play in children’s depression?
According to Psychologist Bui Thi Hai Yen, Director of NHC Vietnam Psychotherapy Center:
Family is fundamental, school is complementary and society is complementary. These are the most basic human environments from birth to adulthood. Each individual has their own views, views and independent thoughts, but at the same time is still heavily influenced by these 3 environments. For example, psychology, to the positive, to the negative, to the dream, to the desire, to the desire and the ability to express their feelings.
Thus, it can be seen that family plays an important role in children, especially in terms of depression and negative thoughts. There are young people somewhere who have been hurt since they were very young, maybe unintentionally or intentionally. When parents are so busy with life, work, and passion, they forget that the “blank page” is in dire need of nurturing, support, love and sharing. These are also the things that a baby needs at birth, needs to be cared for, needs to be loved, needs to be led, accompanied and taught.
Because parents forget, the children have to grow up, struggle on their own, and build up their own IQ too soon. That leads to confusion and entanglement with negative emotions, negative thoughts, limiting beliefs, even some bad habits, which are not suitable for each person. human born. These are the first traumas from the family that make children confused, have negative thoughts and are prone to depression.
For example, the family is good, but the way grandparents and parents raise, impart information, and educate are different, even creating differences that are so conflicting, that the children are also prone to falling into inner conflicts. , the confused and do not know what is exactly right, what is exactly wrong.
When the children have reached school age, there will be inadvertently the expectations of grandparents and parents who put the burden on their children’s shoulders, forming fear, confusion and anxiety over time. It is also psychological damage.
If family plays an important role in forming children’s negative thoughts and emotions, family also plays a particularly important role in helping children get rid of depression. By loving their children unconditionally (without expectations), parents should learn to be friends with their children, listen and understand them better. At the same time update more knowledge about modern parenting to better accompany children.
Another important thing is that parents need to be at peace with their child’s problems. This sounds absurd, but mentally strong parents will be a solid support for their children. On the contrary, if parents also fall into a state of anxiety and confusion, it is difficult for the child to be at peace.
Some measures that grandparents and parents can apply are as follows:
- Learn how to control your emotions well, don’t bring the pressures of work and life that you are suffering on your children.
- Try to create a family filled with laughter and happiness.
- Limit unnecessary quarrels and conflicts.
- Spend quality time with your child every day. Quality time is the time that parents are present with their children in an activity 100% of the time. It can be learning, it can be playing, it can be confiding, sharing or perfecting presentation skills with children, sharing books without parents having to worry about work or friends, social networks, electronic device.
- Don’t put too much pressure on or set too high a goal for your child.
- Share and encourage your children when they have difficulties or face important exams.
- If you notice that your child is showing signs of stress, pressure, or stress, you should take the time to find out the specific cause and help the child reduce difficulties.
- Support children to build healthy and positive family and friends relationships so that children can comfortably develop at the right age.
- Stop disparaging and underestimating your children and instead give them words of encouragement, encouragement, praise and support.
- Encourage children to participate in healthy fun and entertainment activities or go on a trip or picnic with the family to reduce stress and bond between parents and children.
3. Solution to the problem of depression
Solutions for depression need to be implemented as soon as possible at the first signs of illness such as sadness, frustration, and depression. When this condition worsens, the child will have dark thoughts about death, and immediate intervention is needed.
So what is the solution to this problem? Depending on the severity of depression, the specialist may prescribe different appropriate treatment methods. Specifically:
3.1. Using drugs
When symptoms of depression become severe, a child may need support with medication for several weeks or longer. Some of the most common medications include: antidepressants, tranquilizers, etc.
However, it should be noted that the use of these treatment drugs should absolutely follow the instructions of the doctor to avoid experiencing serious side effects affecting health. For example:
- Sometimes users will feel uncomfortable because they always feel thirsty.
- Drowsiness, continuous sleep and mind is always in a vague state, difficult to make accurate decisions.
- Nausea, dizziness, fatigue, blurred vision, constipation and even irritability.
- There is a lot of energy, the spirit is excited, standing still.
Several studies have actually shown that using antidepressants can increase the risk of suicide, especially during the first few weeks of starting the medication or when the dose is changed. Therefore, psychotherapeutic methods without using drugs to reduce harm to health are being appreciated by many people.
3.2. Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a method of treating depression with a psychologist. People with mild or severe depression can be treated with psychotherapy, solving psychological problems causing depression is very important, helping to solve many problems such as:
- Identify risk factors for depression, causes of depression.
- Find better ways to deal with and solve problems.
- Dealing with current crises and difficulties.
- Learn to set realistic goals for life.
- Expand and develop relationships around.
- Develop your tolerance and acceptance of suffering through healthier behavior.
- Get a sense of satisfaction back, take control of your life better.
- Learn to love everything around you and reduce negative thoughts like anger and despair.
Psychotherapy safely, effectively, and thoroughly addresses depression. Psychotherapists will accompany and help the patient untangle problems in his mind that he may not even realize himself.
4. Psychotherapy solutions at the Center
Psychotherapy for depression in young people does not require the use of drugs and does not interfere with the body. So it is extremely safe, has no side effects, does not leave complications later.
Currently, healing the mind through face-to-face speech therapy sessions, intensive therapy procedures, and daily therapy procedures performed by expert instructors at home is being appreciated by many people. high.
One of them is the exclusive psychotherapy method of NHC Vietnam. This is the result of many years of research by Psychologist, Master Coach Bui Thi Hai Yen, Executive Director of NHC Center for Psychotherapy Vietnam and Psychotherapists of the American NLP Commission (ABNLP). ).
NHC Vietnam Psychotherapy Center (abbreviated as NHC Psychotherapy) is a unit under NHC Vietnam Psychotherapy Science Joint Stock Company. This is the first and only unit in Vietnam pioneering in the field of mind therapy and healing mental illness built on a large scale, professionalism, dedication and responsibility.
NHC Vietnam’s therapeutic roadmap is designed based on the root cause of depression, definitively resolving depression, recovering health naturally, effectively being clearly committed. Coming to NHC Vietnam Therapy Center, customers are also given mental health care, equipped with methods and skills to overcome difficulties in life, and minimize recurrence.
Psychotherapy solutions at NHC Vietnam also help customers connect and bond, more in harmony with important relationships, especially family members. Young people with negative thoughts and depression also have more positive views, thoughts and beliefs about themselves and life.
5. Share of customers when receiving psychotherapy at the Center
Lan Anh shared that, before coming to NHC Vietnam, you yourself always maintain a negative state in your thoughts, feelings and behaviors, always immersed in depressed, negative thoughts that cannot be escaped. can out. In particular, Lan Anh is always sleepy in class, and her studies are markedly impaired even though she is in her final year of high school.
Your physical health is also very weak, often having to go to the hospital for treatment and having an allergic scalp for many years makes Lan Anh feel even more uncomfortable and often has to use western medicines to apply and drink.
You lose connection with family, friends, do not feel everyone’s affection. Lan Anh feels lonely at all times, everywhere, lonely at school, lonely in her own family, doesn’t see her worth, has no passion, no dreams, not even her own. even glimmers of hope.
You feel your life seems to fall into an utter stalemate, feeling that your existence is meaningless. Lan Anh also once decided to wait until her 18th birthday to be able to donate organs without parental consent and cease her existence.
Psychotherapist Bui Thi Hai Yen – Director of NHC Vietnam Psychotherapy Center is also a direct therapist for Lan Anh. According to experts, when looking to NHC Vietnam, Lan Anh is shy, lacks confidence, and doesn’t even dare to look directly at the person she’s talking to.
However, inside your soul still yearns to change, to live differently. Although I rarely share with my father, I have tried to open up about my current situation. And fortunately, Lan Anh’s father listened, empathized, and was self-aware that he had to help his daughter overcome this crisis. After finding out information, his father went to NHC Vietnam Psychotherapy Center and connected with expert Hai Yen.
Three months of accompanying NHC Vietnam helps Lan Anh be healthy from mind to body, more confident and dare to walk her own path. With the companionship of psychotherapist Bui Thi Hai Yen and her family, you have had a positive change after each stage of therapy.
Lan Anh became a more open person to everyone, more gentle with herself. You also understand your worth and appreciate your life more than ever. Another great thing is that Lan Anh’s scalp allergy has healed on its own, not depending on the daily doses of Western medicine and she was able to assert her personality with her favorite hair color.
Expert, Master Coach Bui Thi Hai Yen also shared: “The companionship and support of relatives will create favorable conditions and empower experts while helping clients overcome their own problems. me.”
To the young people who are also struggling with crises, depression and anxiety, Lan Anh has a couple of messages: “In life, there is always negative and positive side-by-side. When the negative comes, whether expressed or kept in the heart, I am still the first person to influence. So, be gentle with yourself and life will be gentle with you. If you can’t find a way to solve the problem yourself, give someone else a chance to help you. There will be people willing to help, as long as we ourselves do not give up.”
Thus, it can be seen that depression and negative thinking in young people are increasing, adversely affecting mental and physical health. Recognizing symptoms, accompanying and sharing and supporting children from parents is extremely important. And don’t forget, good experiences make us strong, bad experiences make us stronger and more peaceful, all good things are always waiting for you ahead while still with the companionship of your family!
Watch more videos shared by psychologist, Master Coach Bui Thi Hai Yen about “Observe, fear and depression in young people”: