Website design By BotEap.comMany people struggle with depression. Feelings of deep melancholy and utter worthlessness can lead many people to poor job, social, or school performance. These symptoms are often aggravated in adolescent patients due to certain unique pressures they must face. Teens are constantly subject to peer pressure, strict academic expectations, and massive changes in their bodies that can often leave them lost. It is important for parents, teachers, friends, and others to notice the signs of possible teen depression. Adolescents are naturally more likely to have noticeable ups and downs than adults. It is up to the other people in their lives to realize when a teenager’s personality has taken a holistic turn for the worse.

Website design By BotEap.comSome of the signs of adolescent depression reflect the potential for poor academic performance. For example, many teens with depression may sleep through class, refuse to do their homework, or generally be unmotivated to achieve something. Constant lethargy is one of the hallmarks of depression regardless of age, but it can be particularly surprising in teenagers, who are supposed to be young and energetic more often. Feelings of complete isolation are also common in depressed teens. If you notice that a teenager is spending more and more time alone, it might be time to seek help.

Website design By BotEap.comAside from emotional and physical changes in their bodies, adolescents can be subject to environmental factors that increase their risk of depression. Losing a loved one or experiencing your parents’ divorce can foster a certain hopelessness within you. In fact, the deflating sense of loss, whether permanent or temporary, can lead to anger, misery, and despair. Beyond that, teens must also face the daily challenge of being judged by their peers at school. They face constant pressure to fit in, to be “cool,” and to perform particularly normative behaviors. This can be especially difficult for teens whose sexual identity is stigmatized. Teens who don’t quite fit into the mainstream can often be bullied. This can cause them to withdraw further into themselves and lose a lot of self-esteem and self-confidence.

Website design By BotEap.comDespite all these signs, less than 20% of teens with depression receive a proper diagnosis. This is in large part because they require a parent, teacher, or other authority figure to be aware of the symptoms and seek help for them. Unfortunately, many adults are unable to discern between normal adolescent behavior and adolescent depression. Feelings of hopelessness and inadequacy can prepare teens for a host of problems later in life, or worse, they can prepare teens for potential teen suicide. That is why it is increasingly important for parents to take an active role in the lives of their adolescent children. It can mean the difference between life and death.