The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry notes that around five percent of children and adolescents suffer from depression at any given time. Teen depression can be difficult to spot, since the symptoms are often chalked up to typical teenage behavior. If your teen is showing some of the classic signs of depression, don't allow it to fester. Let your teen know that you care and work toward treatment.
Step 1
Watch for and recognize the symptoms of teenage depression. Teen depression may manifest as overall irritability or sadness. Some other clues, such as a withdrawal from friends, lack of social engagements, dropping grades, fatigue, extreme weight loss or gain and a general lack of concentration all point toward symptoms of depression.
Step 2
Talk to your teen and validate her feelings. While you may not understand the symptoms of teen depression, they are real. Acknowledge the changes that have taken place to alert you of a problem so that you can talk to your teen about how she feels.
Step 3
Persist in talking to your teen about depression. Your teen may feel embarrassed about her symptoms and shut down when you first try to talk. Remind her that you're there for her and are ready to talk when she is so that she'll know you aren't giving up on her.
Step 4
Schedule an appointment with your teen's doctor to talk about her symptoms. Going straight to a psychologist or psychiatrist can be overwhelming. Instead, suggest a general physical and go with your teen. Talk about your teen's symptoms with her doctor and discuss whether a referral is necessary for further help.
Step 5
Get outside help immediately if your teen is thinking about suicide. When a teen is depressed and angry, she may feel as if there's no way out. Also, some antidepressant medications can increase thoughts of suicide in teens. If your child is taking medication, pay close attention to how she acts and report any negative changes in behavior to your child's medical provider.
