Depression among teens is common and it is effectively treated by the combined use of medication and psychotherapy, notes TeensHealth.org. Because depression can become severe, it is important that alternative treatments are used only with the oversight of a mental health professional. Alternative treatments should not be used as the sole form of treatment.
Social Involvement
For a teen experiencing depression, it can be helpful to get involved with a social group. According to HelpGuide.org, isolation is one of the classic characteristics of depression and it is one of the elements that also helps maintain the severity of the mental illness. Re-entering the social world can help a teen combat depression by reducing his isolation. A teen who is depressed should be encouraged by his therapist and his parents to become involved with a group, through sports, church, dance, a music group or a job. Depression will take away a teen's motivation to accomplish anything on their own, it is therefore up to the parents and the therapist to find activities he might enjoy and take him to these social events until he becomes motivated to attend on his own. Make sure the teen is not forced to participate in an activity he does not enjoy. This will only decrease his self-esteem and feelings of worthiness.
Healthy Body
One of the ways to reduce the symptoms associated with teenage depression is to focus on the idea that taking care of the body will help a teen's overall mental well being. Teens with depression need to be doing things to strengthen their overall well-being. The Mayo Clinic reports that a number of alternative techniques a teen can use to ward of depression. Yoga, guided imagery and meditation techniques can help a teen reduce her depression symptoms by giving her a way to relax and refocus on what is important. Acupuncture has been reported by some people to be effective at reducing symptoms of depression. Also, massage therapy can allow teens the chance to relieve the physical symptoms, such as muscle tension, that are so often connected with depression.
Supplements
A variety of herbs and supplements are used as a way to reduce depression symptoms, but these should not be used without caution. When using a herb or supplement to treat teenage depression, you have no guarantees of its effectiveness because they are not researched by the Food and Drug Administration. The teen's doctor should be notified before a herb or supplement is added to a teen's diet so he can weigh the risk of drug interactions or side effects. According to the Mayo Clinic, St. John's wort is a dietary supplement that is commonly used in Europe to treat depression. SAMe is another supplement also used in Europe to treat depression, notes the Mayo Clinic. Also, diets rich in omega-3s have shown to reduce depression symptoms, reports the Mayo Clinic.
