In just one year, almost 3 million US teens suffered a major bout of depression, a new government report shows. “Adolescence is a critical time in a person’s development, and battling depression can be devastating for teens unless they receive effective treatment,” said Paolo del Vecchio, director of the Center for Mental Health Services at the US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). “Effective treatment is available, but parents, teachers and concerned members of the community must work to assure that adolescents in need get help,” he said, NBC News reported. The overall rate of depression among young people jumped to 11% between 2013 and 2014, up from 9.9% the previous year, the report found. Rates of major depressive episodes among young people between the ages of 12 and 17 were highest in Oregon, with an annual average of 14.6%.
