Teenage depression

Do you ever wonder whether your irritable or unhappy adolescent might actually be experiencing teenage depression? Of course, most teenagers feel unhappy at times. When you add hormone havoc to the many other changes happening in a teenager's life, it's easy to see why their moods swing like a pendulum.

One in 10 five to 16 year olds in the UK have a recognisable mental health disorder and 4% of children have a disorder such as anxiety or depression.

Depression and the serious problems associated with it can be treated. So if your teenager's unhappiness lasts for more than two weeks and they display other symptoms of depression, it may be time to seek help from a health professional.

Why do adolescents get depression?

There are many reasons why a teenager might become depressed. For example, teenagers can develop feelings of worthlessness and inadequacy over their school marks. School performance, social status with peers, sexual orientation or family life can each have a major effect on how a teenager feels. Sometimes, teenage depression may result from environmental stress. Whatever the cause, when friends or family, or things that the teenager usually enjoys, don't help to improve their sadness or sense of isolation, there's a good chance that they have teenage depression.

What are the symptoms of teenage depression?

Often, teenagers suffering from depression will have a noticeable change in their thinking and behaviour. They may have no motivation and even become withdrawn, closing their bedroom door after school and staying in their room for hours.

Teenagers suffering from depression may sleep excessively, change their eating habits, and may even exhibit criminal behaviour such as vandalism or shoplifting. Here are more signs of depression in adolescents even though they may or may not show all signs:

• Apathy
• Complaints of pain, including headaches, stomach aches, lower back pain, or fatigue
• Difficulty concentrating
• Difficulty making decisions
• Excessive or inappropriate guilt
• Irresponsible behaviour, for example, forgetting obligations, being late for classes, bunking off school
• Loss of interest in food or compulsive overeating that results in rapid weight loss or gain
• Memory loss
• Preoccupation with death and dying
• Rebellious behaviour
• Sadness, anxiety, or a feeling of hopelessness
• Staying awake at night and sleeping during the day
• Sudden drop in marks at school
• Use of alcohol or drugs and promiscuous sexual activity
• Withdrawal from friends

Can teenage depression run in families?

Yes. Depression, which usually starts between the ages of 15 and 30, can run in families. In fact, teenage depression may be more common among adolescents who have a family history of depression.