Teen males who struggle with depression may display the common symptoms of depression, including overwhelming sadness, issues eating and sleeping, trouble concentrating, and loss of pleasure. But they also experience different symptoms than those exhibited by teen girls, according to MayoClinic.com.
Signs and Symptoms
Symptoms more likely to occur in teen males than females include aggression and violence, rage, isolation, overinvolvement in sports, sexual behavior, and substance abuse.
Misconceptions
Some people misperceive the rates of depression in teen males, thinking that the rates are much higher for adolescent girls. "Psychology Today" magazine reports that rates of male teen depression are soaring.
Considerations
Teen males are often told that it's not socially acceptable to discuss their feelings, especially sadness, so many are hesitant to get help for their symptoms of depression.
Treatment
Treatment for male teen depression includes medication such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, and therapy. Support groups can help teen males feel less alone, and they can get advice from their peers who struggle with the same issues.
Warning
When suffering from depression, adolescent males are more likely to die by suicide than adolescent females, because they use lethal forms to hurt themselves and show fewer signs of suicidal thoughts.
