Q&A: How do I know if my child is depressed?
How do I know if my teenager is depressed? How can I tell the difference between normal teen moodiness and a bigger problem? What should I be looking out for?
Emotional ups and downs are a normal—if challenging—aspect of the teen years. It’s also common for times of transition (e.g., back to school) to cause stress and, in some cases, raise questions about whether a child’s response to that stress is “normal.” If you have concerns about your child’s mental health, it’s always a good idea to talk to your pediatrician, a school counselor, or a therapist (see: how to find a therapist).
Here is a standard screening measure for depression in teens. In a professional setting, a mental health provider would ask a teen to fill out the questionnaire indicating how often they’ve had each symptom in the past two weeks. Of course, diagnosing depression is more complicated that just scoring a questionnaire, but getting a sense of the items on this measure can help us understand common signs and symptoms.
In particular, if these symptoms are happening most days, and this has been going on for a couple weeks, it’s likely time to get professional help:
Feeling down, depressed, hopeless, or irritable. “Hopeless” might look like feeling that they have nothing to look forward to, or that things will never go their way. Also, depression can often present as extreme “irritability” (crankiness), not just sadness.
Little interest or pleasure in doing things. Are they no longer enjoying activities they used to enjoy (spending time with friends, extracurriculars, etc.)?
Difficulties with sleep. This might include sleeping too much or too little (i.e., hypersomnia or insomnia)
Difficulties with eating. This might include eating too much or too little, losing or gaining significant amounts of weight, or major changes in appetite.
Feeling tired or having little energy. It might seem like they’ve lost all motivation, or are having trouble getting off the couch or out of bed to do basic activities.
Feeling bad about self. Are they thinking or talking a lot about being a failure? Or letting people down? Or feeling guilty for things that are not their fault? Are they struggling a lot with self-esteem?
Trouble concentrating. This could be in relation to school work, but also activities like reading, watching TV, or participating in conversation.
Changes in “movement.” This might include moving or speaking noticeably more slowly than usual, or the opposite—being more fidgety or restless.
Suicidal thoughts. If your child is talking about being better off dead, or thinking of harming themselves, you should get them help immediately (988 is the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).
For more on what to do if you’re concerned your child might be depressed, check out this helpful article from the Child Mind Institute. Visit the Youth Mental Health Project for a good list of other resources.
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Note: as always, the information provided in this newsletter is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional mental health health treatment or advice. Contact your medical or mental health professional, or 911, for emergencies.