depressed teen with mother

Preventing Teen Depression

Depression is a very serious mental disorder that is becoming more prevalent in teens today. According to the American Psychological Association, approximately one in five teenagers is clinically depressed. The good news is that early depression prevention is possible.

Preventing Teen Depression: Early Detection

Teen depression often goes undiagnosed because symptoms of depression are mistaken for teenage moodiness. As a parent, you can play a key role in depression prevention and detection by listening to and watching your teen carefully. Any changes in his or her behavior could indicate depression and you should seek the advice and attention of a medical professional.

Depression is defined as abnormally low moods that persist for at least two weeks. Some other signs to watch for include:

  • Agitated behavior
  • Apathy (even in activities that once brought pleasure)
  • Change in personality
  • Changes in appetite accompanied by weight fluctuations
  • Changes in sleeping patterns
  • Destructive behavior (hurting self or others)
  • Eating disorders
  • Fatigue
  • Involvement in drinking or drugs
  • Irritability
  • Lack of energy and concentration
  • Low self-esteem and feelings of worthlessness
  • Sadness
  • Sensitivity to criticism
  • Talk of death and suicide
  • Withdrawal from social contact.

Preventing Teen Depression

As a parent or teacher of a teen with depression, you play a vital role in depression prevention. Outlined below are some practical ways you can do this.

  • Encourage healthy eating habits. Too often, a teen who is given too much freedom in food selection chooses to eat junk food. This can result in nutritional deficiencies that can, in turn, become a risk factor for depression.
  • Encourage your child to participate in sports, clubs and other extracurricular activities in order to build a strong support group of friends.
  • Encourage your teenager to get active. Exercise can enhance your teen’s physical and mental well-being.
  • Make sure your children know how much you care about them.
  • Praise your teen’s strengths and be sensitive when addressing weaknesses. Self-esteem can be very fragile, particularly during the teenage years.
  • Talk with your teen. Listen attentively. Let your child know that you are there and to listen when something is wrong. Don’t be discouraged if it takes some time before your child begins to confide in you.
  • Try to enforce an early bedtime. A study published in the Sleep journal in January 2010 found that adolescents with earlier bedtimes set by their parents were significantly less likely to experience teen depression.

Talk to your teen about a depression prevention program involving counseling sessions with a psychotherapist, a school psychologist or a school counselor.

Teen Suicide Prevention

Preventing teen depression goes a long way towards teen suicide prevention. If you feel your teen is in danger of committing suicide, contact a health care professional or suicide crisis line immediately for emergency help.

Resources
American Academy of Sleep Medicine Staff. (2010). Earlier bedtimes may help protect adolescents against depression and suicidal thoughts. Retrieved May 13, 2010, from the ScienceDaily website: www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100101011828.htm.

American Psychological Association Staff. (2003). School-based program teaches skills that stave off depression. Retrieved May 12, 2010, from the American Psychological Association website: www.apa.org/research/action/school.aspx.

Mayo Clinic Staff. (2010). Symptoms. Retrieved May 4, 2010, from the Mayo Clinic website: www.mayoclinic.com/health/depression/DS00175/DSECTION=symptoms.

Mayo Clinic Staff. (2009). Teen depression: Prevention begins with parental support. Retrieved May 11, 2010, from the Mayo Clinic website: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/teen-depression/MY00937.

Schwartz, A. (n.d.) Teenage depression and consequences. Retrieved May 13, 2010, from the MentalHelp.net website: www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=30656&cn=4.

Smith, M., et al. (n.d.) Teen depression: A guide for parents and teachers. Retrieved May 13, 2010, from the Helpguide website: helpguide.org/mental/depression_teen.htm#authors.