Depression In Teens

Medically reviewed by Elizabeth Erban
Updated March 26, 2024by BetterHelp Editorial Team
Content Warning: Please be advised, the below article might mention trauma-related topics that include suicide which could be triggering to the reader. If you or someone you love is having suicidal thoughts, contact the 988 Suicide & crisis lifeline at 988. Free support is available 24/7. Please also see our Get Help Now page for more immediate resources.

The teenage years are often full of awkwardness, confusion, pushing boundaries, testing limits, and an increased desire for independence. It’s a period of intense growth physically, emotionally, and intellectually, so it’s understandable that it can be a time of confusion and upheaval for teens and their families. Sometimes, teens undergoing these changes also develop emotional signs that mimic the signs and symptoms of depression. It’s important to understand and recognize teen depression so that you can get help for your children when they need it. 

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Concerned your teenager is struggling with depression?

What is teen depression?

Teen depression is a serious mental health condition that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest in activities. It affects how a teenager thinks, feels, and behaves, and it can cause emotional, functional, and physical problems. Although symptoms of depression can occur at any time in life, certain symptoms may be more common among teens than adults.

Teens often face issues such as peer pressure, stress from social media, academic expectations, hormonal fluctuations, and changing bodies, which can create emotional ups and downs. Signs of depression in teenagers should not be overlooked. Depression is a major mental health issue that influences how a person thinks, feels, or conducts themselves.

For some teens, negative emotions are more than just temporary feelings. It should be noted that symptoms of depression in a teen aren’t a weakness or something that simply can be overcome with willpower – depression might require long-term treatment. 

Frequency by gender and demographic

Depression among American teenagers has become increasingly common, especially teen girls, who are now almost three times as likely as teen boys to experience depression, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The high cases of teen depression explained that there is a need to address this mental health issue. In 2017, one in five teenage girls – or nearly 2.4 million – had experienced at least one major depressive episode (defined as depression symptoms lasting at least two weeks) over the past year. By comparison, 7% of teenage boys (or 845,000) had at least one major depressive episode in the past 12 months.
The total number of teens who recently experienced depression increased by 59% between 2007 and 2017, and the rate of growth was faster for teen girls (66%) than for boys (44%).

While teen depression is more common in girls than their male counterparts, they are also more likely to receive treatment by seeing a professional or taking medication. Among teen girls who had recent major depressive episodes, 45% received treatment for depression over the past year. By comparison, just 33% of teen boys with recent depressive episodes received treatment.

What are the signs and symptoms?

Teen depression signs and symptoms often include a change from the teenager’s previous attitude and behavior that can cause significant distress and problems at school, at home, in social activities, or in other areas of life. Teen depression symptoms can vary in severity but paying attention to how emotions and behaviors change are common indicators that something may be wrong. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, symptoms of depression in a teenager may include the following:

Emotional changes

  • Feelings of sadness, which can include crying spells for no apparent reason
  • Frustration or feelings of anger, even over small matters
  • Feeling hopeless or empty
  • Loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities
  • Loss of interest in, or conflict with, family and friends
  • Low self-esteem
  • Irritable or annoyed mood
  • Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
  • Fixation on past failures or exaggerated self-blame or self-criticism
  • Extreme sensitivity to rejection or failure, and the need for excessive reassurance
  • Trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions, or recalling memories
  • Ongoing sense that life and the future are grim and bleak
  • Frequent thoughts of death, dying, or suicide

Behavioral changes

  • Exhaustion and loss of energy
  • Insomnia or sleeping too much
  • The sudden abandonment of once-beloved activities
  • Spending the majority of their time alone
  • Changes in appetite and eating habits – decreased appetite and weight loss, or increased cravings for food and weight gain
  • Substance use, including alcohol abuse
  • Agitation or restlessness – for example, pacing, hand-wringing, or an inability to sit still
  • Slowed thinking, speech, or body movements
  • Complaining about various aches and pains without an apparent medical cause
  • Social isolation
  • Poor school performance or frequent absences from school
  • Paying less attention to personal hygiene or appearance
  • Angry outbursts, disruptive or risky behavior, or other instances of acting out
  • Self-harm – for example, cutting, burning, or excessive piercing or tattooing
  • Making a suicide plan or a suicide attempt
Getty/AnnaStills

Why is it so prominent?

There are multiple reasons why a teenager might become depressed. Teens can develop feelings of worthlessness and inadequacy related to their school performance, social status with peers, sexual orientation, or family life. Sometimes, depression symptoms in a teen may result from environmental stress. Whatever the cause, when friends, family, or activities the teen usually enjoys don’t help to alleviate their sadness or sense of isolation, there’s a chance that they are struggling with depression.

Depression statistics

  • Teen depression affects about 20% of adolescents.
  • Teen depression does not come with one single definitive cause, but rather several psychological, biological, and environmental risk factors.
  • General teen depression symptoms include having an irritable or depressed mood for more than two weeks and demonstrating at least five of the aforementioned clinical symptoms and signs.
  • Depression can lead to an increased risk of suicide, which is the third leading cause of death in youth 10-24 years of age in the United States. The number one killer of teenagers is car accidents.
  • Interpersonal therapy (IPT) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) are the two major approaches commonly used to treat teen depression, though family therapy sessions can also be helpful. 
  • Teen depression is a risk factor for developing a number of other mental health symptoms and disorders, including anxiety and substance abuse. 
  • In the U.S., depression is the leading cause of disability for people over 5 years of age.

If you are struggling with substance use, contact the SAMHSA National Helpline at (800) 662-4357 to receive support and resources. Support is available 24/7.

Where do I get help?

If signs of depression in teens are present, it’s important to get them assessed by a health care provider. Once a teenager is diagnosed with depression, doctors and mental health professionals can work together to develop a treatment plan for them. Depression is a complex illness, and no single treatment works for everyone. Teens with depression may benefit from psychotherapy, but they might also require medication to help control chemical imbalances in the brain that some experts believe result in depression. Treatment often involves a combination of therapy and medication, depending on how severe symptoms are.

Medication

Various medications are available for depression, most of which are prescription antidepressants. Antidepressants can present with varying effects on everyone, so a teen with depression may have to try several before finding one that works effectively for them. Consult with a therapist or doctor to find out if medication is an option and to find the most suitable medication for your teenager.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy can often be very helpful and effective for a variety of mental illnesses, including anxiety and depression. As with medication, one can pursue multiple different types of psychotherapy. Some of the more common examples are:

  • Cognitive behavioral therapy: Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on changing negative thought patterns and teaching the individual to recognize and cope with such thoughts.
  • Interpersonal therapy: Interpersonal therapy focuses on teaching individuals how to evaluate their interactions with others to improve how they relate to others.
  • Psychodynamic therapy: Psychodynamic therapy focuses on an individual’s unconscious processes and on how to understand feelings stemming from past experiences.

Other treatment options

Some other treatment options include:

  • Lifestyle changes: Some teens might find that exercise or healthful eating may relieve depression symptoms. For most, a healthy community and a nonjudgmental support group can help. These lifestyle changes might depend on how one is already living, and what changes will improve their mental health.
  • Family counseling: Family counseling can help the family more effectively support the teen, and can also identify any family dynamics that may be contributing to the teen’s depression.
  • Brain stimulation: Brain stimulation is a category of treatments, including electroconvulsive therapy, that stimulate the brain in an attempt to “reset” it. Doctors usually only recommend this approach when several other treatments have failed.
  • Psychoeducation: This form of education about mental health and mental illness works most powerfully when the entire family learns together, and parents and caregivers commit to learning about a teen’s mental health needs. The more knowledge a family has about teen depression, often a family then learns how to help with the teen's symptom management.
  • Complementary medicine: Some teens experience positive results from yoga, tai chi, acupuncture, chiropractic therapy, or massage. It is safer to use these options in conjunction with traditional depression therapies, rather than as a substitute.
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Concerned your teenager is struggling with depression?

Online therapy with BetterHelp

If you suspect your teen might be depressed or if you have questions about related mental health conditions, the licensed professionals at BetterHelp can assist you. Being a parent can be an exciting yet difficult journey, and you may not always know how to help your child most effectively. Parenting can also fill up your schedule, making the days very busy. As a result, you may not have enough time to drive to a therapy appointment. However, online therapy allows you to receive therapeutic support from the comfort of your home. You can connect with a therapist according to your schedule and address any concerns or mental health topics that may be weighing on you. 

The effectiveness of online therapy

Online therapy can be helpful for people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds. Teens who are depressed may need counseling to work through the problems they’re experiencing, but parents can also benefit from speaking with a professional. One study assessed the efficacy of a web-based intervention on parental psychological flexibility and emotion control. Results showed that participants experienced improved emotional control, decreased parental stress, and greater acceptance skills. Additionally, multiple parents “had a functional improvement in rewards of parenting.”

Takeaway

Watching your teenager experience challenges with their mental health can be incredibly difficult as a parent. Encouraging them to speak with a licensed professional, such as a therapist, may help them start to heal. If your teen’s depression starts to take a toll on your own mental health, it’s important that you also seek support. An online therapist can provide support and resources for even the busiest individuals, giving everyone a chance to get the care they need and deserve.
Learn to cope with the challenges of adolescence
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