Depression in Youth
It’s not unusual for teens to experience "the blues" or feel "down in the dumps" occasionally. Adolescence is an unsettling time, with the many physical, emotional, psychological and social changes.
However, when a teen’s sadness is pervasive and starts to affect their daily functioning at school and at home, it may be a sign of clinical depression. According to the CDC, 6% of youth ages 12-17 have received a diagnosis of clinical depression.
Your child or student may be showing signs of depression if they withdraw from friends/activities, feel hopeless, feel constantly irritable or are easy to anger, have poor self-esteem, have difficulty concentrating, feel restless, experience changes in sleep or eating patterns, are restless, or have thoughts of suicide.
Tips for Youth, Parents, and Teachers
If you suspect your child or student is depressed, it is extremely important that they receive professional treatment immediately. See the Panhandle Partnership Resource Guide for more information: https://panhandlepartnership.com/resources/mental-health-resources/
If your child or student is prone to feel sad or depressed, below are some tips to prevent depression and to cultivate important coping skills.
Encourage your teen to make friends. Adolescence is a time in a child’s development when friendships begin to become an increasingly important source of support in their lives. Healthy relationships with peers are central to teens’ self-esteem and provide an important social outlet. Conversely, if your child is struggling to make friends or has unhealthy friendships, this can be a risk factor for depression.
Participating in sports, a job, school activities or hobbies. Staying busy helps teens focus on positive activities rather than negative feelings or behaviors. Often, if a teen is experiencing depression, these activities may be overwhelming. As a parent or teacher, encourage them to take small steps to get active and out of the house, such as going for a walk or going to the grocery store. Listening to music, drawing or other art projects, spending time with a pet, journaling, or talking to a friend are other ways that your teen can cope with feelings of sadness at home.
Encourage healthy habits. Regular exercise, eating healthy foods at regular meal times, getting 8 hours of sleep every night, and avoiding alcohol and drugs are lifestyle habits to encourage in all youth, but especially those who are prone to depression.
Encourage them to talk to a trusted adult for help. When problems are too much to handle alone, teens should not be afraid to ask for help. At this stage in their development, a teen may feel more comfortable going to peers for support. However, if you notice that a teen is demonstrating signs of depression, reach out to them and ask if they need support. When reaching out to a teen who may be depressed, listen do not lecture. Lecturing or giving advice can make the teen feel like they are not being heard or that their feelings are not valid.