Teen depression is a complex mental health disorder. It’s one that comes with numerous symptoms that vary from person to person. Parents have to walk a fine line of knowing what is simply teenage moodiness and what is the onset of mental health disorders. Sometimes, teen depression happens without parents seeing any obvious signs. How do you know?
Most importantly, never underestimate what is happening with your child. If you believe something is changing, even if you’re not sure it’s harmful, reach out for help. Seeking the guidance of a mental health professional can help your teen make it through complex situations more easily. Teen depression is very real, with 43% of females and 33% of males reporting symptoms, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
When there is a concern or you know your child needs help, do not wait to contact us. At Willow Creek Behavioral Health, we offer comprehensive support to you immediately. Do not hesitate to contact us for help.
Five Signs of Teen Depression Not to Miss
Some of the most common signs of teen depression include:
Persistent sadness
A child may feel sad frequently, sometimes without an obvious reason. You cannot assume you know what their thoughts and concerns are in every case. But when you notice your child seems unhappy often, that’s a worrisome sign.
Loss of interest in activities they enjoy
Children at risk for depression often pull away from activities that are important to them, or those they have engaged in for a long time. Sports, clubs, or groups of friends seem to suddenly change.
Academic changes that seem out of the ordinary
A good student starts to do poorly. A student who always tries stops doing so. Any change in motivation, focus, or grades can be indicative of a change in mental health.
Physical changes become obvious
Some teens are very hard on themselves, often judging themselves harshly. Others stop taking care of themselves as they always have. They simply don’t care.
They are sensitive to bad news or failure
Anything negative becomes an intense situation. They may need excessive reassurance in who they are and what they can accomplish. Some will be very sensitive to rejection.
It’s not always easy to know when your teen is depressed. However, it is always important to err on the side of caution. If you believe there’s a risk, there’s likely something that’s just not right that needs to be addressed.
Does My Teen Need Immediate Mental Health Help?
Your teen may need immediate mental health support if they experience any type of sudden shift in personality, emotion, or function that creates a risk to their health or safety. Signs that you need to take immediate action to support your teen include:
- Suicidal behavior or threats. Any type of suicidal behavior or talking about harming themselves or others warrants immediate help. It is not normal for teens to want to die or harm others. Treatment for suicidal thoughts in Green Bay is immediately available with us.
- Indications of psychosis. This may include experiencing auditory or visual hallucinations. They may see or hear something that’s not there. They may also display intense paranoia, often without any obvious reason for it.
- Engaging in self-injury. Self-harm can include cutting themselves, burning, or engaging in reckless behavior with the intention of harming themselves.
- Substance use and overdose risks. A teen may need mental health support if they are using alcohol or drugs at increasing rates. There is no safe level of use for teens. If your teen has had an overdose or if you believe they are at risk for it, that’s an indication to get immediate help.
- Aggression and agitation occur more frequently. A teen acts in a way that seems excessively aggressive, or they have severe agitation that doesn’t align with what you know to be happening with their day-to-day life.
If you see signs of these types of depression or warning signs of acute dysfunction, do not wait to get your child into treatment. It can save their life. We offer an adolescent intensive outpatient program and immediate treatment in our acute treatment center.
How to Get Your Teen Immediate Mental Health Support
At Willow Creek Behavioral Health, we strive to make the process of getting your teen into treatment as effective and efficient as possible. That starts giving you the tools to know when something is not right. Then, we’re here for you.
You can walk right now for an assessment. Or, give us a call to learn more about our teen mental health treatment programs in Green Bay. Your child’s symptoms are not something to ignore. We can help.
