Signs of Depression in Teens, and How to Treat It

Depression is a common mental illness that can affect people of all ages, including teenagers. In fact, some research suggests that in 2019, 4.4 percent of children had depression, while other data shows up to 15.8 percent of adolescents aged 12 to 17 experienced depression that year.

Before we say anything else, know that if you're feeling depressed, it is not your fault. Depression can affect anyone, and being depressed doesn’t imply weakness or that you’re doing anything wrong. 

While depression is a serious mental health condition, it’s also treatable. Below, we explain how depression can develop in teens, identify signs of teen depression to look for, and discuss treatment options, including therapy, medication, and lifestyle changes that can aid in recovery.

Major depressive disorder (MDD, major depression, or simply depression) is a serious mood disorder that affects just about every aspect of your life. It can cause mental symptoms that affect your moods and thoughts and physical symptoms that affect your sleep, energy, and well-being.

What Causes Depression in Teenagers?

Research suggests that a mix of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors are all involved in the development of depression.

Although the exact cause of depression isn’t known, there are some specific risk factors for depression in teens. You may be more at risk of becoming depressed during your teens if you:

• Have a family history of mood disorders or mental illness

• Feel critical about yourself or have low self-esteem

• Have difficulty socializing and making friends

• Have problems with your parents or everyday family life

• Experience a stressful event, like divorcing parents, a death in the family, or a breakup

• Fall behind in school or have learning disabilities

• Have a chronic illness or physical health issues

Although depression occurs in both boys and girls, research shows that teenage girls are almost twice as likely to become affected by depression.

Though depression is often associated with sadness, teens may exhibit other signs of depression. Many may become irritable, angry, sensitive to criticism, and withdrawn. However, depression is also more than just everyday moodiness.

When you’re depressed, you may develop severe symptoms that affect just about every aspect of your daily life, from your moods to your ability to enjoy certain activities, focus on school, and connect with your friends.

Common depression symptoms in teens include:

• Feelings of extreme, persistent sadness

• Finding it difficult to enjoy or find satisfaction in activities you usually like

• Withdrawing from others, including your parents, friends, and romantic partner

• Feelings of irritability and difficulty staying in control of feelings

• Sudden outbursts of anger, frustration, and other strong emotions

• Feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, and guilt

• Physical ailments, such as headaches, stomach aches, and physical pain

• Excessive daytime fatigue, needing to sleep more than usual, or having trouble falling asleep

• Having a hard time concentrating 

• Falling behind in school or spending less time on assignments, homework, or attending classes

• Drinking alcohol, using drugs, having unsafe sex, or doing other high-risk things

It’s normal to experience some of these symptoms occasionally. But if they’re persistent or severe, they may be signs that you have clinical depression.

Depression and Signs of Suicide in Teenagers

Severe depression can lead to self-harm and thoughts that involve death or suicide. This is called suicidal ideation, and it’s a serious issue that you shouldn’t deal with alone.

Warning signs of an increased risk of suicide include:

• Openly talking about death or suicide

• Sudden increases in risk-taking behavior

• Saying goodbye to friends, family, and loved ones

• Giving away possessions to other people

• Withdrawing from relationships with others

If you notice these signs in yourself, or if you’re the parent or friend of a teen who displays signs of suicidal thoughts or a potential suicide attempt, it’s important to seek help.

You can do this by contacting the 988 suicide & crisis lifeline.

To diagnose depression, a healthcare professional will usually run a series of evaluations. This involves a diagnostic interview and possibly some questionnaires. They may also tap into the teenager’s network, gathering information from family members, friends, and other adults in their lives — like teachers — to get a complete picture.

Getting a diagnosis is often the first step in getting treatment and learning how to manage symptoms of depression.

Rest assured, depression almost always gets better with treatment. But to get treatment, you’ll need to seek help by talking to a parent or trusted family member or reaching out to your school counselor or primary care provider.

From there, your doctor might refer you to a mental health provider specializing in adolescent psychiatry or therapy. You can also read our guide on how to tell someone you're depressed if you need more advice.

Based on the severity of your depression symptoms, your mental health history, and your needs, your mental health provider may suggest taking part in online therapy, using medication to control your symptoms, or making changes to your habits and lifestyle.

1. Therapy for Depression

Depression often gets better with psychotherapy or talk therapy. This type of therapy involves talking about how you feel with a licensed mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist, a psychologist, or a counselor.

Several forms of talk therapy are used to treat teen depression, including:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This form of therapy involves identifying and changing negative thoughts that cause you to feel depressed, as well as developing new skills to cope with your feelings. It shows some promise in teens with depression. 

• Interpersonal therapy (ITP). This type of therapy, designed to address mood disorders and improve relationships, can be a great tool for teenagers with depression who are having trouble with relationships. Some research also suggests that IPT effectively treats depression.

• Family therapy. There can be a few different approaches to family therapy, but it’s generally practiced as group talk therapy. If depression and family conflict co-occur, this type of therapy can be especially beneficial.

Psychotherapy is effective, but it can take time to work. You may need to participate in therapy for several weeks or months before you notice improvements in your thoughts and feelings. 

2. Medications for Depression

If you have clinical depression, your mental health provider may prescribe a type of medication called antidepressants. 

These medications optimize the activity of certain natural chemicals (neurotransmitters) in your brain. Taking an antidepressant can help you to feel better and stop your depression symptoms from interfering with your everyday life. 

Antidepressants can take three to four weeks to start working, and you may need to try a few medications before finding one that works well for you. If you’re prescribed any antidepressant medication, don’t stop using it without first talking to your healthcare provider.

It’s important to note that all antidepressants carry a black box warning stating that they may increase suicidality in children and young adults up to the age of 24. That may sound scary, but the greatest risk of suicide comes from untreated depression. The bottom line is that if you’re suffering from depression, you should pursue treatment, including medications, if appropriate. Just keep a close eye on the possibility of emerging or worsening suicidal ideas.

3. Habits and Lifestyle Changes

Sometimes, making changes to your habits and living a healthy lifestyle can help to make the symptoms of depression less severe. Try to:

• Exercise regularly. Regular exercise helps reduce the severity of depression by releasing endorphins — natural chemicals that raise your mood. Even a short walk or bike ride instead of doom-scrolling on social media might help you feel better. 

• Stick to a regular sleep schedule. Try to go to sleep and wake up at roughly the same time each night, even on weekends. Aim for the CDC’s recommendation of at least eight hours of sleep per night.

• Spend time with friends and family. It’s important to socialize with others, even when you don’t necessarily feel like it. Avoid isolating yourself, as this could cause your depression to get worse.

• Focus on gradual improvements. Depression does get better, but it doesn’t happen in a single day. Focus on gradual improvements in your moods, levels of energy, and other depression symptoms.

While you’re recovering, try to focus on effective self-care. Even simple things can make a big difference in your mood, thoughts, and overall well-being.

If you’re a parent or caregiver with a depressed teen, there are also things you can do to support your child, including:

• Listening to them actively and non-judgmentally

• Supporting their efforts to practice self-care and providing them with resources to get treatment

• Making necessary changes if environmental factors are triggering depression

• Continually but calmly and patiently checking in with them

• Expressing how much you care about them and that you love them as they are

Depression is a serious mental illness, and it’s important to pay attention to the early signs that it’s starting to develop.

Here’s what to keep in mind about teen depression:

• Adolescent and early 20s depression could look different than depression later in life. It can cause changes in your mood, a loss of interest in your hobbies, and difficulty staying focused at school.

• The symptoms of depression can be overwhelming. But you are not alone, and this mental health condition is treatable. Effective treatment options include therapy, medication, and lifestyle changes.

• If you’re in your teens and think you may be depressed, don’t hesitate to reach out for help by talking to a trusted adult, family member, or your pediatrician. It can feel scary, but reaching out for help when needed is admirable — and it’s the first step in feeling better.

If you’re above the age of 18 and would like to seek help on your own, you can connect with a licensed provider from home using our online psychiatry platform.