A growing number of youth in the U.S. live with major depression, with 15.08% of youth experiencing a major depressive episode in the past year. The ongoing stress, fear, grief, and uncertainty of the last two years has weighed heavily on them, and many are struggling to cope emotionally. If your teen is struggling with depression, there are things you can do to help. The first step in helping your child battle depression is knowing how to recognize the warning signs.
We are here to help! Our therapists specialize in working with children, teens, and their families. Call us at 909-985-0513 to schedule an appointment.
*San Bernardino Community Crisis Response Team is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year at 909-535-1316.
Sources: National Alliance on Mental Illness, nami.org; Mental Health America, mhanational.org
- Irritable or depressed mood
- Withdrawal
- Lack of interest in activities they once enjoyed
- Hopelessness
- Deterioration of academic success
- Feeling inappropriate guilt/feelings of worthlessness
- Lack of energy and motivation
- Sleeping too much or too little
- Eating a lot more or a lot less than usual
- Talk of suicide and/or death
- Set the tone – Parents set the tone of the household. Expressing excessive worry or fear affects your children. If you’re struggling with your own stress, seek out help for yourself. It’s important to keep communicating to your child that there is hope for a better and happier future.
- Provide emotional support – Ask your child how they are feeling and listen to what they have to say. Spend quality time with your child. Encourage open and honest conversations and acknowledge their internal struggles.
- Encourage healthy habits – You may not be able to force your child to be physically healthy, but you can model a healthier lifestyle for them. Encourage your teen to get involved in a sport or just take daily walks with them. Try stocking your fridge with more fruits and vegetables and don’t buy junk food or drinks with a lot of refined sugar. Encourage your child to sleep regularly with a set bedtime and wake time.
- Create visual reminders – Lack of motivation and difficulty concentrating are both symptoms of depression. This can make it difficult for your teen to keep up with their hygiene, daily tasks, and schoolwork. Try helping your child create a daily schedule that they can readily access. Another helpful idea is to print a monthly calendar and write deadlines for assignments on it.
- Help them connect – Depression can lead to isolation. The forced isolation and loneliness due to the pandemic negatively impacted teens and many are having a hard time returning to school, their regular activities, and socializing. This can be a complicated issue because you can’t force your child to get out and make friends. But, you can model it for them by staying connected to others yourself. Talk to your teen and find out what they're interested in. Encourage them to join a club or affinity group at school, attend social events, youth group at church, or activities in the community. Allow them to have friends over to hang out or sleep over. Planning family gatherings is a good way to keep your child socializing especially if they have anxiety about making new friends. Do whatever it takes to keep your child in contact with other people. It's going to take time and patience on your part, but loneliness will not go away on its own.
We are here to help! Our therapists specialize in working with children, teens, and their families. Call us at 909-985-0513 to schedule an appointment.
*San Bernardino Community Crisis Response Team is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year at 909-535-1316.
Sources: National Alliance on Mental Illness, nami.org; Mental Health America, mhanational.org
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