Emerging Adulthood and Depression: An Overview of Chronic Illness and Treatment

Major depressive disorder is a commonly occurring mental health diagnosis among adolescents and those entering the emerging adulthood stage of life. For individuals with adolescent-onset depressive symptoms, there is a greater risk of long-term impairments, including difficulties within work settings, relationships, and overall functioning. Due to the eventful nature of emerging adulthood, it is important to consider what treatment options this population may benefit from. Evidence-based approaches such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT), and psychopharmacological methods have been proven to be effective forms of treatment.