Biochemical Issues
Each case of teen depression is different. There is not one specific known cause of all adolescent depression. Instead, it's usually a combination of factors that cause a teen to become depressed. One factor that could play a role in teen depression is biochemical issues. According the National Institute of Mental Health, the brains of people who are depressed look different from the brains of people who are not depressed. Neurotransmitters, which affect a person's mood, may also be a contributing factor to teen depression. Antidepressants help to balance neurotransmitters, and that's why they seem to be effective in treating the disorder.
Genetic Issues
According the Mayo Clinic, depression is more common in people who have family members that suffer from depression. Therefore, a teen who has parents or siblings who have suffered from depression is more likely to develop depression than a teen who doesn't have any family members with the mental illness. However, many teens without a genetic link develop depression as well.
Environmental Issues
It's extremely difficult to be a teenager. Their personalities haven't fully developed, they're trying to figure out who they really are, they experience peer pressure and bullying and they feel pressure to succeed. Overwhelming stress that teens experience due to such environmental issues can lead to depression. If a teen grows up in a household with a parent or parents who struggle with depression, it might also contribute to her developing depression. She might not learn how to cope in healthy ways because her parent or parents don't cope with stressors in healthy ways.
A teenager who is bullied on a regular basis and experiences other forms of stress may develop depression if he doesn't know how to cope with the situation. Teenagers are more likely to become depressed if they're lonely and don't have a peer support group.
Also, drug and alcohol abuse can contribute to teen depression. Teens may start to abuse drugs and alcohol because they're depressed and trying to numb their feelings, or they may become depressed after they start using drugs and alcohol. Peer pressure can lead teens to try drugs and alcohol and continue using it. Many teens have a hard time telling their parents that they have a problem after they've become dependent or addicted to alcohol or drugs, and they don't know how to stop. The use of drugs and alcohol can lead a teen to fail classes at school and ruin relationships with peers and parents, which can significantly affect a teen's mood and lead to even greater depression.
