Depression

One in five young people (20 percent) will face bouts of depression before they become adults.^xxix Young people with depression may have a hard time dealing with everyday activities and responsibilities.

There is an important difference between being and feeling sad, and depression. Sadness can last for a day or more. Sadness is often caused by a negative event, such as a death in the family or a friend moving away. Depression is very different, often more severe, and lasts for at least 2 weeks with several signs.

Depression gets in the way of how kids behave, deal with others, and how they feel about themselves. Nearly half of youth with depression report very severe impairment at home, school/work, family relationships, or in their social life. Less than one percent of youth with depression report no impairment in these areas.^xxx People experience depression differently, and they may show different signs. If a child is showing four or more of these signs for longer than 2 weeks, they may be dealing with depression. Signs^xxxi to look for include:

Physical	Mental
A big change in how a child eats and/or sleeps – either more or less Frequent complaints of physical illness such as headaches and stomachaches Low energy	Poor concentration Thinking or talking about killing or hurting him or herself Difficulty making decisions
Emotional	Behavioral
Frequent sadness, tearfulness, or crying Feeling empty or “hopeless” Feeling “not good enough,” guilty, or ashamed Extreme sensitivity to rejection or failure Increased irritability, anger, or hostility	Not as interested in activities he or she used to enjoy or just doesn’t enjoy them anymore Frequent complaints of boredom Spending a great deal of time alone Difficulty talking with others Difficulty with relationships Absent from school a lot or poor performance in school Talks about or actually tries to run away from home

For more information on depression and youth see these fact sheets from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA):

Helping Children and Youth with Major Depression: Systems of Care
http://systemsofcare.samhsa.gov/newinformation/docs/Depression_7-20-06.pdf

and

Major Depressive Episode among Youths Aged 12 to 17 in the United States: 2004 to 2006
http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/2k8/youthDepress/youthDepress.pdf

If you think your son or daughter could be depressed, talk to a health care provider like a nurse or doctor, the counselor at your child’s school, or a mental health professional.

This web site describes some of the common mental health problems that affect teens, including:

Last revised: March 27, 2009