It’s not uncommon for adolescents to experience teen depression. This condition can range from minor to severe, affecting a student occasionally or interfering with their daily life. Here is an introduction to this condition to help you understand how teens feel and what they’re going through.

Understanding Teen Depression

Symptoms

Depression is not as simple as feeling occasional sadness. Instead, this condition is a feeling of hopelessness and lasting sadness or even apathy. Teen depression may show as irritability, loss of interest in hobbies and loved ones, or even altered eating and sleeping habits.

Mental Health America noted that parents and teachers may spot teen depression when students perform poorly in class, remove themselves from activities and relationships, or abuse substances like drugs and alcohol.

Adolescents with this illness often experience a constant feeling of lethargy and helplessness and in severe cases may consider or perform self-harm. Suicidal thoughts may also be a symptom of teen depression that requires immediate action to keep the student safe and address their emotional needs. 

Causes

During the adolescent years, people go through chemical and hormonal changes as part of the aging process. When brain chemicals called neurotransmitters are impaired during this stage, they may change the way nerve systems work, which can trigger depressive episodes. 

The Mayo Clinic notes that while there’s no official cause of depression, individuals who have experienced early childhood trauma or who have direct relatives with depression are more likely to experience the condition. 

Treatments

From medication to talk therapy and holistic options, there are many treatments available for teen depression. Often students find that a combination of talk therapy and antidepressants help them feel more normal so they can function in daily life. It’s important to note that depression is often temporary and these treatments may not be necessary for the rest of a teen’s life.

Parents, teachers, and school leaders who want to learn how students with teen depression may benefit from attending a school for struggling youth should contact Logos School in St. Louis County, MO. Their 11-month programs provide students with the help they need to get back on track for graduation through therapy and personalized academic plans. Call (314) 997-7002 or visit the website for information on their approach to serving area youth with innovative alternative education, community support, and therapeutic programming.