With teenagers, a depressed mood is not uncommon because of the normal maturation process, the stress associated with it, the influence of sex hormones, and conflicts with parents.
It can also be a reaction to a traumatic event such as the death of a loved on, the break up of a romantic relationship, or failure or bullying at school.
Teenagers that feel they have little control over negative events that have happened are particularly at risk of becoming depressed when they experience stressful events.
True depression in teenagers can often be difficult to diagnose because it is somewhat normal for a teenagers mood to be a mixture by both up and down moods.
Persistent depressed mood, faltering school performance, failing relations with family and friends, substance abuse, and other negative behaviors may indicate a serious depressive episode.
These symptoms may be easy to recognize, but depression in adolescents often manifests very differently than these classic symptoms.
Excessive sleeping, change in eating habits, even criminal behavior (like shoplifting) may be signs of depression.
Another common symptom of adolescent depression is an obsession with death, which may take the form either of suicidal thoughts or of fears about death and dying, or it may be expressed in the teens art work or music.
So what do you do if you think that your teenager may be suffering from depression.
Get help for them, do not wait to see if depression will get better.
Your GP may recommend anti depressants and or talk therapy.
If so, attend the sessions with them if they want some extra support and make sure they continue to take the anti depressants if they have been prescribed them.
Encourage a healthy diet, regular exercise, and for them to get enough sleep.
Involve them in positive activities; even small activities like personal grooming help.
Often when people are depressed, they feel they will never get better so let them know that this is not a permanent state and they will begin to feel better.