Practically every teenager owns a smart phone. And there had always been an argument between which smart phone was better. Many are either team iPhone or team Samsung. But when phone qualities and features are put aside, the real issue for teens is facing cyber bullying. Cyber bullying is the use of electronic communication devices to bully a person. Examples of cyber bullying include mean text messages, rumors, embarrassing pictures, or videos posted on social networking sites or fake profiles. The growth of social media has created an online world that has benefits and potential harms to adolescents. A saddening disease to occur is Depression. It is a mental illness characterized by hopelessness and despair. Adolescents who reported being bullied online are at an increased risk for depression. Depression from cyber bullying links to negative mental health, worsening to suicidal attempts, harm to others and substance abuse.
The review of studies indicated that cyber bullying was consistently associated with an increased likelihood of depression. Investigators discovered the most common strategies adolescents used to cope with cyber bullying were passive, such as blocking the sender, ignoring or avoiding messages, and protecting personal information. In contrary, for some teens, cigarette smoking relaxes them, providing a temporary escape from stress and anxiety. But cell phones and computers themselves are not to blame for cyber bullying. Social media sites can be used for positive activities, like connecting kids with friends and family, helping students with school, and for entertainment. The more reasonable link to teen depression is the lack of emotional support from people closest to the teen. The main issue causing the disaster is their state of mind. The feeling of worthlessness makes the single teen think that they don't deserve to live and that unhealthy treatment to themselves is right. Smoking temporarily relieves the teen, which reduces the idea of seeking suicide as their permanent solution. Fortunately, treatment options for depressed and suicidal teens are available, highly proven to effectively help.
Depression introduces a confusing series of emotions to a teenager already confused by the physical and mental changes adolescence brings. Teenagers need the emotional support from loved ones. Those who lack emotional support develop negative mental health. When teens don't know how to manage their feelings, they develop ineffective coping techniques in attempt to relieve the pain. Psychologists, therapists, and counselors all provide open hearts and ears for teenagers seeking for help. A combination of medications and psychological counseling is very effective for most teens with depression. " The Food and Drug (FDA) had approved two medications for teen depression - fluoxetine (Prozac) and esccitalopram (Lexapro) (Mayo Clinic)" "Psychotherapy can help your teen regain a sense of happiness and control and help ease depression symptoms such as hopelessness and anger (Mayo Clinic)" These treatment options provide support and counseling needed while teens go through recovery. The need for emotional support opens new relationships to the teen when they seek for help.
"Social media is a ubiquitous extension in the lives of young people, with reports indicating 95 percent of American teenagers use the Internet and that 81 percent of them use social media" (Nauert)
The Constant ridicule and torment can also have lasting effects on youth’s sense of how they identify and react to problems. In addition, children who are bullied may go on to harm others. The buildup of resent to the abuser makes the person want to strike back. The humility draws the victim to have intrusive thoughts of aggressive harm to others. This mindset makes the adolescent go crazy and often resulting in hostile behavior. They'll feel agitated, restless, or even violent. Their tolerance level is low, short tempered, and everything and everyone gets on their nerves. In many cases, aggressive behavior is due to exposure to violence. Aggressive behavior is intentional and emotional problems are the most common cause of it. "Aggressive behavior can be reactive, or in retaliation. It can also be proactive, as an attempt to provoke a victim (Gabbey)"
A recent study by the US National Institutes of Health, reported by Reuters, found that victims of cyber bullying showed more signs of depression than other bullying victims. Depression can have a number of serious effects on a person’s life. Teens who are depressed may say they want to be dead or may talk about suicide. They feel that suicide is a deserved punishment or that the world would be a better place without their existence. "The article, by researchers Jeffrey A. Bridge and others, examined the risk factors concerning adolescent suicide. Bridges found that approximately 15% to 25% of teens have thoughts of suicide through adolescence, from minor thoughts of death to actual suicide plans. "Similar to drug use and cutting, suicide is often thought of as an “escape” from symptoms of depression or problems plaguing the teenager. But unlike drug use and cutting, this escape is sought as a permanent solution"(All Psychology Careers) "Actual suicide attempts range from 1.3% to 3.8% in boys, and up to 10.1% in girls (All Psychology Careers)"
Cyber bullying is nothing new. Social media sites like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook are all popular sites for connecting friends but are also commonly used to commit the act of cyber bullying. Anyone involved in the latest social media sites and apps are all likely to get hurt online. Studies found that those involved in any sort of bullying were at greater risk for depression whether the behavior was physical violence or verbal taunts. Online or offline, parents and adults should be more aware of their child's internet use. Teens who become depressed because of online harassment complicate their health to far more critical health risks. The lack of emotional support influences substance abuse, intrusive thoughts about others, and self harm. Being involved in an adolescents life and supporting them will help them deal with difficult experiences appropriately through the stages of change.
Citation
"Teen Depression."
All Psychology Careers. All Psychology Careers. nd. Web. 31 Aug. 2015
Nauert, Rick. "Teen Cyber Bullying Linked To Depression."
Psych Central. Psych Central. 23 Jun. 2015 Web. 31 Aug. 2015
Gabbey, Amber Erickson. "
Aggressive Behavior. Aggressive Behavior. 23 Dec. 2013 Web. 4 Sept. 2015
"Treatments and Drugs"
Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic. nd. Web. 4 Sept. 2015
