Depression is an important public health problem that requires more and better attention.
In the present work we review epidemiologic studies of depression among adolescents
in Mexico and discuss strategies that may help in earlier identification and referral of potential
cases for timely care.
In summary, depressive symptoms are prevalent among adolescents and adults in Mexico as in
many other countries, with a higher ratio of female cases. Young people experiencing the most
challenging socio-urban situations have higher rates of depression.
Even though depressive disorders are more prevalent among females, consequences may be
even worse for males. The authors posit that, among males, stigma attached to depression might
lead to attempts to hide depressive symptoms by masking them through high-risk behaviors
(e.g., alcohol, drug use, and violence, among others). Women may have higher rates of suicide
attempts, but the case-fatality rate of suicide attempts is higher among males. Despite barriers
and resource scarcity among healthcare and educational institutions, it is necessary to continue
to develop alternatives that will lead to better attention of mental health issues among the
youth, even when their mental health nee