Depression is one of the most prevalent mental disorders in the world today, with millions of people being afflicted by this condition. Sadly, even teenagers can get depressed. Their daily activities - such as going to school and interacting with family and friends - can be seriously affected, but it can also pose serious risk to their lives. Many people dismiss teenage depression as typical adolescent melancholy and mood swings - and this is the part where things can really get complicated for the teenager.
Depression in teenagers, like depression in adults can lead to problems at home, substance abuse, self-loathing, violence toward the people that surround them, and even suicide. The statistics of depression related suicide in teenagers are higher than ever. However, there are ways that parents, relatives, friends, and teachers can help a depressed teenager.
The first thing that one could do to help a depressed teenager is to understand depression. Teenage "angst" is one thing to deal with, and then adolescents also have to deal with balancing their school lives, their relationships with friends, and developing a strong sense of self. But depression is not just acting out or having occasional bad moods - it can cause overwhelming feelings of despair, sadness, and anger. Depression is not the teenager's fault, so stressing that only he should be responsible for his mental well-being is counterproductive. Fortunately, depression is highly treatable. But teenagers are unable to seek help for their condition on their own, so parents, guardians, and teachers should help them find the treatment that they need.
So how does an adult detect depression in a teenager? Irritability, frequent bursts of anger, or hostility toward peers and family members can be a first sign. These episodes can be accompanied by extreme feelings of sadness and hopelessness, lack of enthusiasm in the activities the adolescent used to enjoy, fatigue, difficulties in concentration, dramatic changes in eating and sleeping habits, withdrawal from family members and friends, and frequent thoughts of death or suicide.
Teenage depression is also different with depression in adults. A depressed teenager might complain of aches and pains that he cannot explain - and the persistence of such afflictions does not have a medical cause. Depressed adolescents are typically plagued by constant feelings of worthlessness, which makes them very sensitive to criticism and any form of rejection and failure. Depressed adults tend to isolate themselves completely, but depressed teenagers typically maintain some friendships even if they socialize less. Depressed teenagers also face the constant risks of reckless behavior, substance abuse, and violence to themselves or the people that surround them.
If a teenager is talking about feelings of depression or thoughts of self-harm, do not dismiss it as a typical adolescent need for attention. They might be seeking help.
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