The Intersectionality of Factors in Female Adolescent Depression Including COVID and How to Intervene

Overview: In 2020, 25.2% of adolescent women reported symptoms of major depression. Alone or in combination with other conditions, social workers encounter depressed adolescent women in multiple fields. This paper looks at risk factors, the impact of COVID, treatment options, research, and interdisciplinary collaboration around depression in adolescent women.Proposal text: Major depression is one of the most common mental health problems (National Institute of Mental Health). This paper focuses on depression as it occurs in adolescent women. The National Institute of Mental Health in 2020 reported 25.2% of adolescent women reported symptoms of major depression. This is a major health problem and one that can get overlooked in social work education and in clinical practice. Alone or in combination with other mental health conditions, social workers encounter depressed adolescent women in multiple fields of practice. The presenter has worked with depressed adolescent women in multiple settings for 30 years and for the last 10 years has had the study of depression in adolescent women as her primary research interest while continuing to work with adolescent women both as a faculty member in an undergraduate social work program and in a clinical practice. Moreover, recent studies have shown an increase in reported depression symptoms of depression related to the stresses of the COVID pandemic. Thus, the goal for the paper presentation is to present empirical, current knowledge about depression in adolescent women while at the same time showing how that knowledge assists and changes social work practice and social work education.

This paper begins with an overview of depression and then moves to a discussion of the multiple risks factors for depression in adolescent women such as gender, race, economic status, biology, history of abuse or neglect, grief, being a mother, lack of social support and other related risks. Studies showing the impact of COVID on adolescent female mental health will be highlighted. Participants will next be guided in an exercise to help them understand the intersectionality of risk factors.

The paper next looks at social work interventions for depression in adolescent women and relates them to fields of practice and empirical evidence. Since adolescent women are clients in so many settings including schools, mental health agencies, higher education, juvenile courts, private practice and many others, the presenter will allow for participants to ask questions about their particular interests.

Finally, the paper looks at the issue of interdisciplinary collaboration around the area of depression in adolescent women. What are the barriers to identifying this diagnosis? What are the barriers to agreeing on treatment and to finding treatment providers? What are the social justice issues related to the higher incidence of depression in women than in men? How can social workers use our expertise in Person in Environment and in communication to facilitate interdisciplinary approached to treatment?