Stigma still a barrier for depressed teenagers

Researchers in the U.S. looked into the barriers teenagers face in getting treatment for depression. They interviewed 368 teenagers with and without depression and found that social stigma and worry over how their parents would react were among the biggest barriers. Those teenagers who felt the most social stigma about their condition and worry about their parents' reaction were less likely than other youngsters to have started counselling and drug therapy six months later. Parents tended to focus on more practical issues such as paying for treatment and physically getting their children to see a healthcare professional.

You can find out more about this research at

http://uk.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUKTRE5505LV20090601?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews&sp=true