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The years from 13 to 17 can be very overwhelming for an adolescent to say nothing of the impact on their parents. Adolescence is an unsettling time with many physical, emotional and social changes going on all at once. Many young people in this age group feel that life is not treating them fairly. Stress and confusion are common. Messages from the media: television, magazines and the internet as well as from caregivers are bombarding them. They are left not knowing who to trust and who to follow. Sometimes adolescents turn to alcohol or drugs to cope with all of these changes. To a parent, it’s as if you don’t seem to understand your child anymore and you don’t know how to communicate effectively. You may be having a hard time figuring out what is normal and what is not.

Many adolescents do not know they are depressed. Research tells us that mood disorders, especially depression, frequently begin either before or after the onset of substance abuse. Depressed teens are particularly vulnerable to alcohol and drug abuse. Substance abuse is 1 of the risk factors for possible suicidal behavior. Adolescents who attempt suicide are frequently using some type of substance. The U.S. Surgeon General estimates that more than 90 percent of children and adolescents who attempt to take their lives have some form of mental health problem.

There is no one particular thing that accounts for depression. Some of it may be linked to the family of origin. Other stressors could be losing a parent, divorce or having been exposed to abuse, neglect or other trauma.

• About every 2 hours a young person kills themselves.
• One in five teens suffers from clinical depression.
• Suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people ages 15-24.
• Suicide is the sixth leading cause of death for 5-14 year olds.
• Five to nine percent of children in the United States have a serious emotional disturbance.
• About thirteen percent of children between 9 and 17 years old have an anxiety disorder.
  

The above list is not inclusive by any means. It tells us that it is a serious issue facing all young people today. While typical teenage behavior mimics a roller coaster there are certain symptoms to watch for as a warning sign of trouble. The following is a fairly comprehensive list of the more significant behaviors indicative of depression. : teens may also show their sadness by listening to sad music,, wearing black clothes or writing sad poetry. : teens may pay less attention to their physical appearance and may be pessimistic about the future. : they may drop out of clubs or extra-curricular activities that they previously enjoyed. : teens may avoid family functions and spending time with their friends. They may spend greater amounts of time in their rooms alone. : common feelings are that they are not “good enough” and feel like a failure. . This can manifest itself in the teen attacking others, being critical, sarcastic and taking their anger out on family members and friends. . While we know teens like to sleep late in the morning and go to bed late at night, excess sleeping can be a signal to depression. This could be seen in all night television watching, difficulty getting up for school or frequent naps during the day. Loss of appetite or over-eating can also be problematic, with disorders like anorexia and bulimia common to the female teenage population. . A change from good grades to failing or nearly passing can be indicative of depression. Teachers may not pick up the clues because the teen may not appear sad or depressed, and therefore it may go unnoticed. . This could be associated with ADHD or ADD but not to the exclusion of a depressed mood. . Depressed teens may use alcohol or drugs as a way of self medicating to feel better. As indicated earlier in this article, substance abuse plays a large part in suicidal behavior. . Adolescents who may not be able to express their feelings verbally will often self mutilate, such as cutting on themselves as a cry for help. Invariably, the teen doesn’t want to take his life but has no other way of asking for help. A common theme may be that they say they want to be dead, or they want to kill themselves This kind of statement should ALWAYS be taken seriously and acted upon for evaluation with a mental health professional.

• Frequent sadness, tearfulness or crying
• Feelings of hopelessness
• Withdrawal from friends and activities
• Social isolation
• Low self esteem
• Increased irritability, anger or hostility
• Changes in eating and sleeping patterns
• Poor performance in school
• Poor concentration
• Substance abuse
• Self injury or suicidal thoughts

The bottom line: depression is treatable. Early diagnosis is the key to helping adolescents reach their full potential. Teens have a multitude of stresses in today’s world and can benefit from open communication within the family, and a safe place to feel accepted. When 1 or more of the above symptoms persist for longer than 2 weeks and are interfering with their ability to function in daily living, parents should seek professional help.

For further questions, or if you suspect that your teen might be on the verge of depression, you may email me through my website at bjpcounseling.com. All information will be kept strictly confidential.