10 Reasons Why Depression Is on the Rise

3. Early Detection and Ability to Help Children

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Early on in my career, I rarely saw a child for diagnosis and/or treatment who suffered from depression unless they were going through (or had gone through) a particularly traumatic event.

As we are better equipped to diagnose and treat children with depression, and more parents are willing to seek mental health treatment for their children, we have seen a corresponding rise in overall depression.

Earlier detection is crucial for the best prognosis, and more parents are now willing to seek help for this younger generation. Sometimes depression in children can be related to generational issues, sometimes due to modeling within the home, and at other times it is in response to unique stressors.

You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me. – Exodus 20:5

4. Social Isolation

Social isolation contributes to depression. It’s fairly universal that people are created with a longing to be seen, heard, accepted, and loved. Yet isolation makes it difficult for any of those needs to be met.

Recent events have made it particularly difficult for people to have their socialization needs met in a healthy way, especially children and seniors. When we’re isolated, we tend to be left alone for our thoughts to wander, and often to unhealthy or untrue places. Internal dialogues like “I’m all alone,” “Nobody understands or cares,” “Life will never get better” tend to bombard our thinking.

Our feelings are often the outward manifestation of the thoughts we believe, so when we have thoughts like these, it’s no surprise when depression follows.

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. – Hebrews 10:24-25

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