The American Academy of Pediatrics has issued new recommendations for diagnosing depression in teens.
Under the new guidelines, primary care doctors would screen children ages 12 and older for depression at least once a year. Filling out a questionnaire about depression is one way primary care doctors can diagnose mental health issues.
Zach Meyer is a licensed Psychotherapist in the Milwaukee area. He believes it's a step in the right direction. The questionnaire option he agrees is easier for young adults considering they don't have to admit they are struggling with another person face to face.
"They’re either embarrassed or ashamed to receive mental health services that’s a factor but also most teens who are depressed don’t know they are depressed," Meyer said.
Meyer has teenagers and young adults as his patients. He told TODAY'S TMJ4 the main issues his patients struggle with are academic pressure and depression due to a lack of followers on social media accounts.
"Most of the research that's done in the mental health world is in adults and so we are still kind of getting our hands around what needs to be done differently with kids and adolescents," Meyer said.
This is the first time in 10 years the American Academy of Pediatrics has updated these guidelines.
