Depression

Depression Overview

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), approximately 1.9 million children ages 3-17 have been diagnosed with depression. Of the youth diagnosed with depression, approximately 60% do not receive any type of mental health treatment to address the condition.

What are some of the symptoms of depression?

• Feeling sad, empty or hopeless more often than not
• Feeling irritable
• Trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or sleeping more than normal
• Feeling very tired or having little energy
• Feeling worthless or guilty
• Having trouble concentrating
• Thinking about dying or suicide
• Changes in appetite

What are the symptoms that parents should watch out for?

Symptoms of depression vary from child to child, so here are some behaviors parents can keep an eye out for, which may hint that your child is depressed or in need of mental health care.

• The child seems very irritable; keep in mind depression in young kids can look more irritable than sad or down.
• The child is spending a lot of time in their room and does not want to interact with family or friends
• The child has a significant decrease in energy level and is spending more time in bed/sleeping than usual
• The child is very “sensitive” and cries easily
• The child appears to get angry “out of nowhere”
• The child does not want to go to school
• Big changes to child’s appetite – suddenly eating significantly more or less

What’s the difference between natural adolescent behavior and depression?

Symptoms of depression may not be obvious, such as a teen exhibiting sadness. It is common for teens to be overwhelmed easily during all of their developmental changes, or to appear irritated and withdrawn from family because they’d rather be with their friends.

It’s important for parents, caregivers, and educators to be able to spot the difference between natural teen behavior and depressive behavior.

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders (DSM-5), clinically diagnosed depression may be called Major Depressive Disorder or Other Specified Depressive Disorder. The DSM-5 states that common symptoms of depression may include irritable mood, lack of motivation, inability to concentrate, fatigue, physical symptoms like stomach aches and headaches, social withdrawal, sadness, and behavioral issues such as non-compliance and or defiance.

If your teen is not usually this way, and if there is a pattern of these symptoms popping up for more than two weeks, it may be a red flag that your teen may be experiencing a depressive episode.

Who experiences depression?

Up to 9% of youth experience at least one major depressive episode by age 14. Adolescents are even more likely to experience depression. Girls experience depression at roughly twice the rate of boys. Up to 37% of college students exhibit/express experiencing depressive symptoms. 

Depression is the most common mental health condition among trans youth; 66.5% of trans teens experience depression.  

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Tips for kids and teens with depression

Depression can be overwhelming and can make you feel hopeless, but it is important to remember it is treatable. Ask a parent or trusted adult for support. The following tips can also help you cope.

If you are in immediate crisis or feel like hurting yourself or others, call (877) 7CRISIS or (800) 273-TALK, or text “HOME” to 741741. You can also call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency department. Don’t wait to get help.

Try not to bottle up your feelings

Seek out a trusted friend or adult, such as your parent, to talk to about your feelings and what is on your mind.

Understand that there is a name for what you are going through and that you are not alone

At least half of your classmates will experience symptoms of depression at some point in their lives. Even if you feel alone, know that there are other people who have felt the same way you do and can help support you through these feelings.

Keep up with friends and activities

Even if you do not want to do things, you should still try to do them. Push yourself to try to do fun things, even if you have to go through the motions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, some of the activities you used to enjoy may not be safe in their typical form. Talk to your parent or guardian about activities you can have fun doing while still being safe.

Do something that makes you feel proud.

Do your homework, finish a chore (such as cleaning your room) and notice what a good job you did. Feel proud of your hard work. Set small goals like this to help keep that proud feeling going throughout the week.

Talk about your sadness

Sometimes when people feel sad, the things they think about are sad, too. If your best friend told you they were feeling really sad or had a problem, what would you say to support them? Try talking through your own sadness with a friend.

Talk about scary thoughts and feelings

Sometimes when kids feel upset, they think a lot about death or dying. If you notice yourself having scary thoughts such as “I want to die,” tell a trusted adult, such as your parent or guardian. Get help or call 9-1-1 right away if you feel like you might hurt yourself.

Focus on getting enough sleep

We are more likely to get upset or feel down if we don’t get enough rest. Try to make the hour before you go to bed peaceful and relaxing. Try to stay away from your phone and the TV, since the light tricks your brain into thinking it is daytime.