The Importance Of Family Support In Young People With Depression

The process of overcoming psychopathology goes far beyond facing it “alone”, solely from introspection and following an improvement plan through self-imposed iron discipline.

Precisely for this reason, psychological therapy and medical intervention in mental health exist, essential contexts for coping with a psychological disorder.

But outside of the psychologist’s office, it is important that patients also have a support network. In this article We are going to see the case of young people with depression and the reasons why they should have family support.

Symptoms of depression: the keys to detecting the disorder

Major depression is a mood disorder, and therefore, it is reflected above all in the degree to which the person feels more or less “upbeat” and with the ability to feel interest in what life offers you.

In psychological disorders such as the manic phase of bipolar disorder, this predisposition to actively get involved in what is happening around the person is excessive and problematic, but in major depression the opposite occurs: a state of clear emotional stagnation emerges marked by feelings of hopelessness, sadness and lack of ability to feel pleasure from everyday experiences.

In this sense, the main symptoms of depression They are emotional fatigue, disinterest in activities that are not strictly mandatory, predisposition to social isolation, intense discomfort caused by difficulties in feeling motivated, catastrophic thoughts, and suicidal ideation.

However, they do not have to occur all at once for us to be able to talk about depression (although the definitive diagnosis can only come from a mental health professional).

Why do we have to join forces to help young people with depression?

Major depression is one of the most common psychological disorders in adolescents and adults, and also one of the most harmful and dangerous. Many of its symptoms are directly or indirectly related to suicidal ideation.and even if attempts to end one’s own life do not occur, this psychopathology produces significant wear and tear on the person’s physical and mental health.

However, detecting the presence of depression in a person is not always easy outside the field of psychiatry and clinical psychology, and it may even happen that their symptoms are seen as something “normal” or the result of supposed personal defects of the person. suffers from this pathology, such as “mental weakness” or “lack of willpower to improve” (concepts that are not very useful in psychotherapy, if not directly problematic).

This It is especially serious in the case of adolescence and the age group of young adultsin which, on the one hand, cases of depression increase compared to previous stages of life, and on the other hand, the symptoms can be camouflaged by stereotypes associated with youth, such as rebellion, impulsivity, problems due to lack of love and lack of self-esteem, etc.

Furthermore, in the stage of youth, people usually have fewer psychological, social and material resources to cope with psychopathology: it is easier for them to blame themselves for how they feel, they are more likely to be afraid of generating rejection if they express their discomfort, and they have the pressure of depending on the family for everything (especially in countries where there is strong job insecurity among young people). On the other hand, this population group has had less time to raise awareness about issues related to mental health, and many young people do not even have a rough idea about what depression really is.

Given this, It is essential that the family of young people with depression are able to detect the first warning signs that reflect the existence of a psychological problem, and that beyond doing everything possible for that person to go to therapy, offer them adequate emotional and material support at home.

Functions of family support for young people with depression

Depression is a serious psychiatric condition that requires urgent treatment. When suspecting a case of depression, Family members should not wait and see how this mental disorder evolves or expect it to resolve spontaneously..

The sooner the intervention, the better; and it is also possible to help the patient from home by having his family and friends do certain things to help him overcome the disorder.

1. Listen empathically

In a case as serious as the experience of a mental disorder, The family cannot continue believing that they will be able to “correct” their child..

It is not a problem of education or discipline, it is a serious mental condition and what the young person needs is to feel listened to and that they have an environment that is empathetic and sensitive towards what is happening to them.

2. Confront social isolation

Lack of motivation can make it difficult for adolescents to connect with their peers while the depressive episode lasts. Thus, The family can take an active role in preventing further isolation.motivating him to see his friends more often and to sign up for interesting activities for his age.

3. Encourage exercise

Exercise does not cure depression, but it can help the person feel more capable of doing things., face new challenges and see that you are progressing. Physical activity cannot be missing when trying to improve a patient’s mental state, always under the supervision of a mental health professional.

An hour of daily exercise can motivate the patient to be more active, engage in activities that give them satisfaction and help them overcome their problem, always in the company of psychological treatment.

4. Promote sleep hygiene

Sleeping poorly and at odd hours is a risk factor for depression. Insufficient sleep can also generate depressive symptoms.

Adolescents need between 8 and 10 hours of sleep each night, so parents and siblings should ensure that their child and sibling goes to sleep at convenient times, discouraging them from carrying out nighttime activities such as playing video games or surfing the Internet. .

Are you looking for professional psychological assistance?

If you want to have therapy services for problems such as mood disorders, low self-esteem or poor emotion regulation, contact us.

In Psychoconsulting We work serving adults and adolescents, as well as couples and organizations. You can find us in Barcelona, ​​or schedule a first online therapy session by video call.