Depression and drug-addiction during adolescence: Intervening together to prevent suicide
Adolescents face many social and learning challenges such as finding their place within their families and their peer group, as well as developing their academic, physical and/or artistic abilities. However, what happens when an adolescent becomes depressed, uses substances repeatedly and has an increased risk of suicide? Family, friends and professionals may quickly feel overwhelmed by the situation. What is the best way to intervene with these youths and their families? This type of difficulty carries with it clinical, psychosocial and confidentiality issues. However, should these dilemmas interfere with a professional’s intervention? This article is an analysis of clinical practices and treatment towards adolescents with depression, suicidality and substance use. This is based on our experience at the Douglas Institute 2nd and 3rd line specialized program with adolescent depression. The literature review has been revised in order to support our recommendations. Together, professionals are often required to look for solutions to improve these difficult situations, which bring them outside of their normal practice. In this article, interaction among adolescent depression and substance use disorder will be presented first. Then, we will help the reader to reflect on how better assessment and intervention with a specific angle of preventing suicide, will take place during this delicate period of adolescent development.