Depression relapse, although rarely discussed, can pose a significant risk in teenagers, preventing them from fully recovering and getting on with their lives.
Treatment protocols are different today than in the past, and modern approaches have a high success rate with young people. Because the teen brain is not fully developed, and thanks to the extra stress of hormonal and social pressures, teens require a different approach to maintenance treatment if they are to fully recover from depression.
Treating Depression in Teens
Long-held interventions of medication and traditional talk therapy have been discounted to a great extent. Antidepressants are known today to pose an unacceptable level of risk for teens, other than in the most extreme cases. Talk therapy, although highly effective for adults, has a poor record of success for younger people.
Popular treatment approaches demonstrated to be effective for helping teens recover from depression include experiential therapy, music and art therapy, equine therapy and group therapy.
Why Relapse Is a Greater Risk for Young Women
Although teens are known to be responsive to a variety of depression treatment protocols, they are also especially prone to regressing. Today’s follow-up and maintenance protocols are unfortunately designed only for adults, based on research on adults. This fails to account for several factors unique to young people, especially young women.
The adolescent and teenage brain undergoes rapid periods of change and development. In addition, the hormonal and social overload of puberty and the transitions it brings exert a greater level of stress on teens’ emotional and mental states.
Young women are especially vulnerable because, in addition to having a much higher risk of developing depression, they are less likely to openly admit or discuss emotional and behavioral challenges.
The Importance of Maintenance Treatment
The research clearly demonstrates that long-term treatment is the secret to helping teens fully recover from depression. Maintenance treatment not only sustains the progress achieved during the initial intervention, but it also allows a young woman to continue improving, and ultimately, to achieve remission. The Treatment of Adolescents with Depression Study (TADS), performed by the National Institute of Mental Health, indicated that this was true no matter what treatment protocol was used.
The bottom line: Whatever intervention your daughter undergoes for her depression, maintain a schedule of follow-up treatment for at least a year after remission is achieved, if not more.
At Havenwood Academy, we recognize the challenge that depression and related disorders pose for girls and young women. Our programs are specifically designed to ensure that our students receive the proper treatment, and that it is maintained in accordance with the published research. Contact us today to learn more about getting help for your daughter, and how to prevent depression relapse.
Think Havenwood Might Be For You?
We encourage any visitors considering placing their daughter in treatment to fill out our online assessment as soon as possible. This two minute form will give our admissions team all the information needed to determine if your daughter is a good fit for our program.
Eric Allred was born and raised in Rigby, Idaho. He grew up on a family farm where he learned the value of work. He graduated from Rigby High School and attended Rick’s College, now known as BYU-Idaho. He received his bachelor’s degree in journalism from Utah State University, received a master’s degree in organizational behavior and human relations from the University of Phoenix and a second master’s degree in marital and family therapy from Phillips Graduate Institute. Eric has been involved in Rotary and was president of a local Rotary Club. He enjoys being with his family and doing outdoor activities such as fly fishing.
Chase was very fortunate to start in this industry as a struggling 17 year old kid looking for a mentor and something to be passionate about. Wilderness therapy was Chase’s first stop in this industry and was truly a transcendental experience for him. Chase has an enormous love for this line of work and the power that it has in creating change in everyone involved. Chase’s biggest belief is the power a mentor, strong, healthy relationships, and accountability can have on anyone, especially youth. Taking a very relational approach to his work, Chase has always been very relatable to the students he works with. Being able to understand and relate to a vast variety of the same struggles as a lot of the students he works with has been able to help him continue to grow, learn, and teach. Chase believes that with great rapport and trust, he can use his experience to continue to coach and train new staff, and has the ability to find those staff with the passion for this industry, and help them grow. His love and passion can be felt the moment you talk with Chase about this industry and he passes that on to others he works with. In his spare time you will find Chase cheering for the Eagles, Yankees, and Mavericks, hanging out with his brother, learning more about Eastern Psychology, and continuing to grow and learn.