What are some of the causes for teen depression and ways to help?

• Aniya Faulcon
  BioRecent Stories

  

  Aniya Faulcon is The Spark Host/Producer for WITF. She has a passion for shining a light on unique people, experiences, and perspectives within the community.
  
  Previously she worked as the People and Social Trends Reporter/Video Anchor for LancasterOnline | LNPNews. During her time there, she created video packages, provided Facebook Live coverage at community events, and wrote data-driven stories with census data and feature stories on local leaders, non-profit organizations, events, and people with unique talents and experiences within Lancaster County.
  
  Aniya also worked at WMAR ABC 2 News as a Sales Assistant and at the AFRO American Newspapers as an Executive Assistant and Media correspondent. Aniya interned at WEAA Gospel Grace 88.9 and worked at her alma mater’s radio station, WWPJ at Point Park University, where she gained skills and a passion for radio.
  
  Aniya grew up in Baltimore, Maryland and attended the Baltimore School for the arts for high school with a concentration in acting. She continued to hone her skills and passion for storytelling and later graduated from Point Park University in 2018 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting and Broadcast Reporting. Aniya is eager to continue her journey with storytelling in her role with WITF, as she aims to shed a light on real people and real stories within Pennsylvania in a variety of mediums.

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Airdate: December 21, 2022

According to HealthDay News, 1 in 10 Americans suffer from depression, with the mood disorder increasing fastest among teens and young adults.

New research from Boston University School of Public Health reveals that the elevated rate of depression since the start of COVID-19 has persisted into 2021, and even worsened, climbing to about 33% and affecting 1 in every 3 American adults.

According to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, suicide is the second leading cause of death for children, adolescents and young adults.

In Pennsylvania, during COVID-19, 7,000 teens died by suicide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Elliot Kallen, Co-Founder and President of A Brighter Day, joined us on The Spark Wednesday to discuss teen depression and ways to help those experiencing it.

Some of the symptoms for teen depression are: social withdraw, changes in eating and sleeping patterns, lack of enthusiasm and more.

“Depression is a sadness that overwhelms the human body. It is a disease in its own right,” Kallen, who created his organization after his 19-year-old son died by suicide, said. “I look at (depression) as six walls of a room, including the floor to ceiling. The walls begin to turn black and darken, and at some point they’re all black… You’re the parent. You’ve got to help your child, put your child first and get your child some help.”

For more information about A Brighter Day’s free mental health services for teens visit abrighterday.info.

The Associated Press and WITF’s democracy reporter Jordan Wilkie are partnering to tell stories about how Pennsylvania elections work, and to debunk misinformation surrounding elections. 

Read the stories here