It’s not out of the ordinary to see your teenage child suffering from acute depression. Adolescence is an unsettling period that comes with many social, psychological, emotional and physical changes.

Adult understanding and guidance are, therefore, most needed to help the tender minds cope up with the disconcerting nature of their surrounding, be at home or school. Also, getting your teen admitted to the best boarding school in North Bengal is a viable decision to help them experience life on their own and evolve wisely.

Understanding Teen Depression

It is described as a debilitating mood disorder that poorly affects the daily functions of a teen’s life, the way he/she thinks and feels. The severe thought of despair isolates the minds and throws them into a pool of sadness and intense worries.

Teens feel highly confused in their growing years, and many find it hard to adapt to the continuous changes happening around them. What’s alarming is that most depressed teens feel they are alone in their acute state of hopelessness and there is no cure for it.

What causes Teen Depression?

It has been observed that every 1 in 20 teenagers suffer from acute depression. Only a meager percentage of the depressed teens seek medical attention, while the rest continue to suffer, eventually hampering their studies and their quality of life. Their vulnerable minds feel over-stressed most of the times and they tend to overreact over petty issues, be it at home or at school.

To make matters worse, many teens deal with family pressure from a very young age, which can create financial and emotional concerns.

Conflicting situations, such as estranged parents fighting often put a negative impact on the minds. Financial restraints or uncertainties force the young minds to feel depressed when they see their friends enjoying a well-to-do life.

Today’s teens are highly exposed to a fast-changing life that has both, good and bad outcomes.

The television, Internet, and smartphones keep them immersed in their world and thoughts, thus depriving them of a pulsating social life and real human touch. This affects and disrupts the abilities of their minds to react normally in social gatherings, or in demanding situations that life has to offer.

 

As explained by an educator of Sri Sri Academy Siliguri, dealing with teen depression can be done tactfully by following six most effective ways. After all, it is crucial to creating a sense of acceptance and belongingness in the adolescent minds so they can cope with the deterrence that comes with a fast-changing life.

 

1. Admit them in boarding schools – The more your child is social and interacts, the more he/she learns about life and people. Boarding schools ensure a systematic learning process. For instance, the best Boarding School in North Bengal claims to offer an all-around development for your child.

They stay under the constant observation of their teachers and get the opportunity to participate in all types of extra-curricular activities, be it sports, dancing, singing, creative activities, meditation, yoga, etc. Mixing with other students and working together stimulate the minds and help your kids remove their fear of loneliness and become more social.

 

2. Help them join organizations that aim at offering effective programs– Any boarding school in North Bengal, especially the English medium schools in Siliguri take students on motivational tours and help them be a part of those organizations that offer unique learning programs.

This is, indeed, a good platform for teenagers to engage in various specialized training, such as helping the needy, involving in social services, planting trees for a greener environment, etc. This relaxes the minds and helps them stay active, which is an effective way of avoiding depression.

 

3. Practicing Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) – It is an influential practice followed by schools and parents, mostly, to help teenagers/students change the way they think and behave. The aim of CBT is to identify the irrational beliefs and thoughts in teenagers and helping them to challenge the same by learning to recognize their thought patterns.

 

4. Tell your teenage child/student how to deal with suicidal thoughts – Make him/her understand that attempting to suicide is wrong. You should not let anyone condemn or judge them. Encourage him/her to speak his/her mind freely, talk about his/her problems and fears.

 

5. Encourage exercising – Exercising is a great way to relax the minds. Besides, yoga and meditation have its positive effects on the minds that can last up to 12 hours. Many schools conduct meditation classes and this, indeed, allows students to evaluate their thoughts and have a fresh mind to reflect on their actions and what impact they bring on their peers.

 

6. Encourage sharing their failures – Be it at school or home, both teachers and parents should try to change depressive behaviours by encouraging them to talk about their poor grades, and stop them from continuing activities that have an adverse effect on them like practicing drugs or substance abuse.

 

If parents or teachers notice sad moods in students, they should immediately sit in discussion and have an open talk about their problems. Any sleeping or eating disorders or eating problems should be referred to a psychiatrist for professional assistance.

 

Teenagers are vulnerable to their surroundings. Therefore, it is the responsibility of teachers and parents alike to follow the right teaching path of guidance, vigilance, and understanding. It is to help the growing minds imbibe the realities of life with an innovative approach to help them efficiently fight negative thoughts and depression successfully.

 

Sourav Dutta – Bio: Born and brought up in Kolkata, India, Sourav Dutta is passionate about blogging. He has been writing his views and ideas in the field of education, moral values, lifestyle for the past three years. Being supremely interested in the educational vertical and having a deep understanding of the same, aided him to express his views openly. Having experimented with various jobs in the past, Dutta finally understood that blogging is precisely where his heart lies.
A cup of hot chocolate by his laptop and he is good to go!

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May 19, 2018