Ways You Can Help Your Teen with Depression
Adolescence is a time of intense emotional, physical, and mental changes. As parents, it’s challenging to navigate the constant ups and downs of teenagers. While emotional changes are normal, for some teens, these changes can lead to depression, which affects millions of young ones worldwide. Watching your child go through emotional pain can be heartbreaking, but fear not, because there are ways you can help!
1. Open the Lines of Communication
Establish open and nonjudgmental lines of communication with your teen. Depression can make teens feel isolated, misunderstood, and reluctant to talk about their feelings.
- Practice open-ended questions that encourage teens to communicate.
- Example: “What was your favorite part of school today?” or “What would you like to do today?”
- Actively listen without interrupting or offering solutions.
- Avoid dismissing their feelings. Allow them to feel and express their emotions fully.
- Create a safe space for emotional expression by allowing “judgment free” conversations.
2. Educate Yourself about Depression
One of the main reasons parents become frustrated with their depressed teens is because they do not fully understand what their children are going through.
- Learn about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of depression.
- Recognize that depression is a medical condition, not a “phase” of being a teen.
- Explore different resources, such as books, websites, and support groups for parents.
- Approach this situation with compassion and empathy.
3. Promote Healthy Habits
One way to help overcome depression is to change certain lifestyle habits. Encourage and model to them what these healthy habits look like.
- Encourage regular physical activity to boost mood and energy.
- Support a healthy, balanced diet that includes essential nutrients.
- Make sure that your teen gets adequate sleep each night—at least 8 hours of sleep is needed.
- Help your teen find and explore different activities they can look forward to.
4. Create a Supportive Home Environment
A positive and supportive environment can make all the difference when it comes to your teen’s ability to cope with depression.
- Reduce stressors at home, such as family conflicts or excessive demands.
- Focus on including more positive interactions with your children, and spend more quality time as a family.
- Encourage the pursuit of interests and hobbies.
- Set realistic academic and personal expectations, and praise teens for their efforts and accomplishments.
5. Watch for Warning Signs
Depression can sometimes lead to more severe mental health issues, including self-harm and suicidal thoughts. As parents, it is important to be able to identify these warning signs before they become worse.
- Look out for talk of hopelessness, worthlessness, or not wanting to be around anymore.
- Take notice of possible withdrawal from social activities, or reckless behavior.
- Address any concerns directly with your teen. Try not to hide your worry and show that you care about them.
- Seek immediate help from a mental health professional if you notice alarming signs.
6. Professional Health
While it’s important to provide parental support, professional intervention is often necessary for treating depression. If your teen is showing symptoms, such as persistent sadness, loss of interests, changes in behavior, or thoughts of self-harm, it’s important to seek help from a professional.
- Consider therapy options like talk-therapy, also known as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, to work through depression symptoms.
- Seek advice from a primary care doctor to see if medication is a necessary treatment option.
- Reassure your teen that seeking help is not a sign of weakness, but rather a strength.
Helping your teen with depression will definitely be challenging, but your support can make all the difference with their recovery. Remember, you are not alone, and you can work with your teen to overcome these issues. Reach out and schedule an upcoming therapy session today!