CAUSES, SYMTOMS, AND TREATMENT OF DEPRESSION IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS A Creative Project Introduction It has been predicted that depression affects 121 million people throughout the world (World Health Organization, 1). In fact, it has been estimated that by the year 2020, depression will be the second largest killer after heart disease (Murray & Fortinberry, 2005, 1). This mental disorder includes symptoms like sadness, hopelessness, social withdrawal, change in appetite and sleep, and low energy (Depression in Children- causes, etc.). Also, depression in children is becoming more prevalent as well. Currently, one in eight adolescents suffer from depression, and it is the sixth leading cause of death among kids from five to fourteen years old. (Statistics on Adolescent). This mental illness can become extremely serious if not treated. However, it is tricky to diagnose, especially in children, because its symptoms may be passed off as typical developmental behavior. Since many children suffer depression without ever being diagnosed, I wantedto provide information for parents to help them figure out if their child suffers from this psychological disease; and also what to do once their child has been diagnosed with it. In order to do this, I am going to design an internet site that provides details about depression symptoms, causes, and treatments. There will be typed up information as well as links if parents wish to do further reading on the subject. In addition, there will be emphasis on the treatment because this is a debatable topic. Some people believe that depression can be treated with drugs, while others think that therapy is the best way to go. I will provide studies from both the medical and therapeutic techniques used to treat depression. One last thing that will be included is some information regarding the layout of the site and how I decided to use certain colors and fonts. Hopefully this internet site will help parents understand if their child has depression and what steps to take once diagnosed.Children & the Internet Introduction Is it a rash or is it the chicken pox? I don’t know; Google it (Apatow, 2007). The world of today has revolved around the Internet and its uses. It has grown up simultaneously with all of us. But how has our digital growth portrayed our social growth? All of the young children in the present are living during a period in which technology is surrounding us on a daily basis and the Internet is a commonplace for any and all transfers of information. They are growing up digital and seem to be in tune with computers and other digital products. An example can be seen in the new Windows 7 commercial, in which a child of maybe 5 or 6 years of age creates a slide show without much difficulty. It’s mesmerizing to see something that used to be so complicated now becoming child’s play. What seems now to happen, in many families with children, is an increasing interest and sometimes pressures to get an online connection to younger and younger children. If we use the age, when 50% of an age group have started to in some way use the Internet, as a measure, that age was 10 years 2002. Three years later, 2005, the critical age had decreased to 8 years. After another three years, 2008, the critical age when half of the age group have started to use the Internet, is 5 years. 2009, the critical age is now close to 4 years (Findahl, 2009). As our involvement with the web proceeds further on, it is not too difficult to imagine our own children uttering “Google” as their very first word. We live in an age that has gradually been made simpler through the use of the Internet. According to Nielsen Online, in May 2009, approximately 16 million U.S. children ages 2 to 11 years old were active online, totaling 9.5 percent of the overall online audience (Rick, 2009, July 8). This may be due to the rapid rise of computers in households of high-, middle-, and low-income.Upgrades in our social networking have made a deep impact on the way we have viewed our digital world. All of the Facebooks, MySpaces, and Twitters have revolutionized how we communicate with friends, family, and just about anyone with an account. But I would like to see how these changes have impacted upon the youth who have grown up digital. My research will be directed towards finding out how the internet has helped to shape our youth and their social culture. It is relevant to understand how the Internet plays a large role in children’s growth today. By learning what the Internet does for our youth, we can learn to utilize it to our advantage.Animal Assisted Therapy & Autism Introduction Autism is a developmental disorder that is usually diagnosed within the first three years of a child’s life. The main symptoms that are associated with autism include lack of social interactions, of verbal communication, and of interest of activities or play. “Children with autism tend to have communication problems with others; some are even non verbal, and are impaired in their social interaction such as eye contact, verbal communication, and touch” (American Psychiatric Association, 1995, as cited in Nakanishi, 1999). According to Autism Speaks, one in one hundred and fifty children are diagnosed with autism. This disorder is becoming increasingly common and the rate of autism is estimated to increase ten to seventeen percent annually. (Autism Speaks). Autism not only affects the person who has the disorder, but also impacts the family members and close acquaintances of the child. Although there is no treatment or cure for autism, there are different kinds of therapies to help lessen the symptoms and to help the child engage in the “normal” everyday activities that children their age are capable of doing. One effective type of therapy involves the use of animals as therapeutic assistance to help autistic children. Owning a pet has many health benefits for those who are not diagnosed with autism, as well as those who are diagnosed with autism. One of the most important benefits of having a pet is always having a companion around. “Studies investigating the easily measurable physical effects of human-animal interaction have determined that pets are effective in reducing blood pressure and promoting survival in coronary artery illness” (Katcher, 1981, as cited in Heimlich, 2001). Pets are ideal for therapy because they offer unconditional love and do not