health

Teen girls at increased risk for depression

NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Aug. 13, 2012

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Adolescent girls are more prone to depression than boys, according to statistics released July 19 from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. In fact, girls 12 to 17 years old are nearly three times as likely to experience a major depressive episode than boys in the same age group.

Twelve percent, or 1.4 million girls in this age group, experienced such an episode annually between 2008 and 2010, said the survey conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (link).

Rates rise with age, tripling from 5% at 12 to 15% at 15. The statistics highlight the importance of targeting middle school students for depression prevention and intervention efforts, said SAMHSA Administrator Pamela S. Hyde.

“It is crucial that we provide adolescent girls the coping skills and social supports they need to avoid the onset of depression, and to offer behavioral health services that foster resilience and recovery if they experience it,” she said.

Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2012/08/13/hlbf0813.htm.

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