Helping a Teen Who's Depressed

Medically reviewed by Cydney Ortiz, PsyD — By Madelyn Brown

Your teen might be slamming the door and refusing to talk, but they still need a compassionate, informed caregiver to help ease their depression.

You may have noticed that your teen isn’t acting like themselves. They might be quieter, spend lots of time alone, and seem too tired to get out of bed most days.

Teenagers are known for being temperamental, but their recent behavior could seem like something more.

Each time you try to connect with your child, you may be met with a closed door. You might feel helpless, but there are ways to help your teen as they navigate depression.

Is it hormones or a depressive episode?

Being irritable, less talkative, and more tired is typical teenage development. But these symptoms overlap with those of a depressive episode, making it difficult to figure out how to help a teen with depression.

There are some observations you could make and consider the answers to determine whether it’s either common teen moodiness or depression, such as:

Observation: They’re sleeping in more.
Questions: How late are they staying up? Once awake, do they remain listless?

Observation: Your teen answers your “How was your day?” with one mumbled word and rushes to their room, not to be seen again until dinnertime forces them out.
Question: Are they isolating only from the family, or have they also secluded themselves from friends?

Observation: Maybe they’ve played baseball since T-ball age, only to drop the sport suddenly.
Question: Have they replaced old interests with new hobbies, or do they seem unmotivated by activities they used to enjoy?

The answers to these self-queries might warrant more exploration with your kid’s pediatrician and a mental health professional.

Signs of depression in teens could also include:

crying spells (for seemingly no reason)
complaints of unexplained aches (perhaps frequenting school nurse)
emotional numbness
irritable or quick to anger
loss of self-worth
fixation on perceived failures with increased self-criticism
poor school performance
sensitivity to rejection
hopelessness
fatigue
concentration or memory challenges
appetite changes not typical for them
uncharacteristic sleep changes
hygiene lapses
social isolation
self-harm
suicidal ideation

For a mental health professional to diagnose depression, the symptoms must persist most of the day every day for 2 weeks.

If your teen is diagnosed with depression, there are treatment options. Still, you can support their well-being at home.

Offering different types of therapy

There are several options for therapy that a teen with depression can try.

For example, your teen may benefit from talk therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

There are also mental health apps that can supplement your child’s depression treatment. A 2018 meta-analysis Trusted Source showed that smartphone mental health apps markedly improved depressive symptoms compared to control groups.

Your teen may also benefit from the shared experience of group therapy or online group therapy.

Leveraging active listening

Remember the days when your child couldn’t wait to tell you every single waking (and dreaming) thought that randomly popped into their brain? Now, your teen may be much more reserved.

When connecting, less is more. Listening more than talking might help a guarded teen open up more.

You can make yourself approachable and open to conversation, but you’ll want to avoid prying questions for now. You might pay attention to the small details they choose to share and ask more about those. These little life details could be meaningful to your teen.

Active listening can strengthen trust with your teen, so the pressure is off if they need to talk with you about more sensitive topics, like symptoms of depression.

Stocking (and encouraging) depression-friendly foods

Research Trusted Source shows that food can interact with the brain to boost mood and improve depressive symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, and sleeplessness.

You might consider keeping apples, bananas, and avocados on the counter for a quick grab when your child needs a snack.

You could try surprising them with a meal intentionally made with ingredients rich in nutrients like B vitamins, magnesium, and iron to potentially ease depression symptoms.

Also, consider limiting refined sugars, artificial sweeteners, and energy drinks, which have been linked to worsening depression.

Your kid might also have little to no appetite due to depression symptoms. It’s helpful to have healthful items available for when your teen has more appetite.

Prepping a crisis toolkit

It can be so hard to watch depression impact your child. And as much as you want to, you can’t take depression away from someone. But your child isn’t lost to you. You can still act by being well-informed and prepared in a crisis.

Emergency room visits for suspected suicide attempts for those ages 12 to 17 increased by 31% during the first year of the pandemic.

Having a crisis plan means you’ll have the following items in place before an emergency:

phone numbers programmed into your phone, including your child’s counselor or therapist
directions to the nearest ER saved in your phone’s GPS app
digital copies of medical history and medications accessible by phone

Maintaining teen depression treatment

Watching your teen thriving, sticking to a routine, and lighting up with enjoyment are some of the most fulfilling moments as a parent.

Even if your child’s symptoms of depression may be easing, ending therapy or medication could worsen their condition. Your mental health professional can offer guidance regarding reducing or ending therapy and medication.

Next steps

Taking care of your mental health is essential so you show up as the best possible parent as your teen navigates adolescence and depression.

You may find it helpful to keep an open conversation with your teen’s pediatrician, so they’re up to date on any developments in your kid’s depression.

Even though your teen might not acknowledge your efforts, the work you’ve done matters. Providing your teen with medical professionals, proper nutrition, medication, and therapy can instill balance and security.