Teen depression is a very serious mental health problem that causes a feeling of sadness and makes one lose interest in activities. There are so many reasons a teenager gets depressed. This could vary from sexual orientation, social status with peers, inadequacy over their grades or family life, and this affects the way the teenager thinks, feels and behaves. If adequate care is not taken it can cause emotional and physical problems. Teen depression is totally different from mood swings, although having mood swings can be a major symptom of teenage depression. A teenager can develop feelings of unworthiness at a stage but this is totally normal until hormone havoc is added to it.
Parents need to observe their teenage child’s unhappiness, if it lasts for more than 2weeks then it is time to seek help from a health professional. Until then, the teenager needs adequate parenting and attention. Teenagers with depression may show or not show these signs:
- Apathy
- Complaints of pain (headaches, low back pain or fatigue)
- Difficulty concentrating, making decisions.
- Irresponsible behaviour (skipping school, forgetting obligations).
- Sadness and feelings of hopelessness.
- Withdrawal from friends.
There are ways which this problem can be solved but there is no particular medical test through which it can be diagnosed. There are several methods used to treat depression among teenagers, including the use of medications and psychotherapy. Sometimes, family therapy may be helpful if family conflict is contributing to a teen’s depression. Adequate support from family and teachers are highly welcome as it can help solve the problem of peer pressure.
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