The old “moody teenager” persona may seem cliché, but it has stuck around because there’s some truth to the matter. During puberty, hormones surge and fluctuate. This can cause some mood instability. But because of these natural fluctuations, parents can have a difficult time spotting serious mood disorders like depression.

According to data from the 2017 State of Mental Health in America report, 11 percent of teens aged 11 through 17 report suffering from at least one major depressive episode in the past year. Major depression is more than just passing sadness. It’s marked by pervasive sad feelings that are associated with suicidal thoughts. Major depression interferes with the child’s ability to concentrate. There’s also a strong link between major depression and substance abuse disorder.

If you think your student or child is dealing with major depression, it’s important to address the issue right away. This article outlines tips for treating depression in teens and young adults.

Recognizing depression in teens and young adults

The first step in treating depression is recognizing that there’s a problem. Look for the following signs:

• Poor school performance
• Problems with authority
• Hopelessness
• Social isolation
• Anger
• Overreaction to criticism
• Poor self-esteem
• Substance abuse
• Suicidal thoughts
• Lack of energy or motivation

How to treat depression in young adults

Depression can be life-threatening, so it’s important that parents and teachers address the problem right away. Teachers and other educators should discuss the problem with the school principal, guidance counselor and involve parents. Parents can talk to teachers to keep them in-the-know, but they should also enlist the help of a professional counselor.

The ultimate goal is to get the teenager or young adult into a counseling program. From here, the counselor will suggest a treatment plan aimed at treating the root cause and symptoms of depression.

The following are common treatment options for someone suffering from depression:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – This form of therapy helps teens change negative thought patterns through exercises and role-playing real-life scenarios.
• Psychotherapy – Psychotherapy is often the first-line therapy for teens and young adults who are suffering from mild to moderate depression. Interpersonal psychotherapy for adolescents (IPT-A) is a well-established therapy that aims to improve problem-solving skills and improve communication in teens and young adults. The ultimate goal is to increase interpersonal effectiveness and improve the teen’s social relationship satisfaction.
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Adolescents (DBT-A) – Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) was originally created to help suicidal patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD). As it has been adapted for adolescents, it focuses more on suicidal tendencies than BPD because many people aren’t diagnosed with BPD until they’re 18 or older.
• Medication – A doctor may prescribe medication for a teen or young adult who is struggling with depression. This is usually done alongside and not in place of therapy. The prescribed medications are designed to help relieve some symptoms of depression.

If you’re reading this right now and have a child or student in mind, don’t delay. Start talking to the right people to initiate help for that depressed teenager. Depression can take lives, and it’s important to act fast.

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February 19, 2018