Teenage Depression: Signs, Causes, Statistics, and How to Help

Being a teenager is never easy.

Teenage years are a time of life when change is constant and unpredictable, and when young adolescents are trying to determine what manner of adult they will grow into.

To make matters even more difficult, the rates of depression in teens are increasing. Mental health problems are an ever-growing concern that parents need to be on the lookout for.

In this post, we’ll take a closer look at what teenage depression is, what the symptoms of depression in teens look like, and what could be causing it.

We’ll also examine some things you can do to help your teenager cope with, manage, and treat their depression, all with the goal of finding their way to a better, happier, more emotionally balanced life.

What Is Teenage Depression and How Common Is It?

Teenage depression is “an intense feeling of sadness, hopelessness, and anger or frustration” [1] that lasts longer than a few days, but which could last for months or even years (chronic depression). It occurs in teenagers between the ages of 13 to 17.

According to the World Health Organization [2], roughly 14% of those between the ages of 10 to 19 experience mental health conditions, with 3.5% of the population between 15 and 19 suffering from depression.

The National Institute of Mental Health [3] estimates that around 5 million adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 suffer a major depressive episode each year. That’s more than 20% of the U.S. teenager population!

Signs of Teenage Depression

Below you’ll find the most common emotional, behavioral, physical, and social tell-tale signs that a teenager might be dealing with depression.

Emotional Indicators

Signs of depression in teens to look out for include emotional indicators like:

• Feelings of anger or frustration, often over minor issues;
• Crying spells and other unexplained feelings of sadness;
• Irritability;
• Negative feelings of emptiness or hopelessness;
• Low self-esteem;
• Loss of interest in activities;
• Conflict with or loss of interest in family and/or friends;
• Exaggerated self-criticism or self-blame;
• Fixation on past failures;
• Feeling guilty or worthless;
• Needing excessive reassurance, often accompanied by extreme sensitivity to failure or rejection;
• Trouble concentrating;
• Feelings that life is pointless, bleak, or grim.

In cases of clinical depression, some teenagers might also have suicidal thoughts or other thoughts of self-harm.

Behavioral Changes

Behavioral changes that indicate teenage depression include:

• Drug and alcohol use;
• Appetite changes, either increase or decrease, and food cravings;
• Reduced attention to appearance and/or personal hygiene;
• Self-harm;
• Suicidal thinking, plans, and even attempts at suicide.

More frequent family conflict is also common.

Physical Depression Symptoms

A few physical signs that your teenager is suffering from depression include:

• Loss of energy and general fatigue or tiredness;
• Excessive sleeping, or insomnia;
• Restlessness, agitation, pacing, or an inability to remain still;
• Slowed body movements, speaking, and/or thinking;
• Complaints of headaches and unexplained body aches.

If you notice one or more of these symptoms and they last more than a week, it’s best to consider talking to a healthcare professional that can properly evaluate the situation.

Academic and Social Impacts

Teenage depression may also have an impact on the teenager’s academic performance and social life.

In this case, symptoms to look out for include the following:

• Frequent school absences, or poor school performance;
• Isolation from friends and family;
• Angry outbursts, risky behavior, or acting out.

All of these are warning signs your child may be at risk of teen depression.

Causes of Teenage Depression

There are many factors that may contribute to or even directly cause depression among teens.

Genetic and Biological Factors

Depression is known to be heritable. It’s estimated [4] that around 40 to 50% of cases of depression may be inherited.

For example, people more prone to neuroinflammation or more likely to suffer from imbalances of neurotransmitters like dopamine or serotonin will potentially pass those depression-causing genetic factors onto their child with high probability.

Depression can and does run in families. While it’s not always identified what genetic factors are at play in each individual, it’s important to know that it’s a very real possibility that it is hereditary.

Medications that impact hormone and neurotransmitter balance can also contribute to depression risk.

Hormone changes (a common occurrence in adolescence) may lead to depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions.

Environmental Influences

A number of environmental factors can contribute to depression risk, including abuse, poverty, and neglect.

Substance abuse can also increase the probability of developing depression. The reason is that heavy alcohol and/or drug use can impact neurotransmitter balance in the brain (along with a whole host of other issues).

Weather, climate, and seasons can affect mood and cause depression. Seasonal affect disorders can affect teenagers both during the winter and summer.

Psychological and Emotional Triggers

Situations of high-stress, such as a trauma or life-threatening situation, can contribute to depression risk. Situations of chronic stress, such as a parents’ divorce, bereavement at the loss of a loved one, or job loss can also become depression triggers.

Exposure to trauma or abuse during childhood is also a known cause behind depression in teenagers, and adults.

Social Media and Technology Impact

Recent studies suggest that excessive use of technology or excessive time on social media can have a negative impact on mental health in teenagers.

Yale Medicine [5] posted an article that stated, “teens ages 12-15…who used social media over three hours each day faced twice the risk of having negative mental health outcomes, including depression and anxiety symptoms.”

The studies showed data that indicates “a higher relative concern of harm in adolescent girls and those already experiencing poor mental health, and for particular health outcomes, such as cyberbullying-related depression, body image and disordered eating behaviors, and poor sleep quality linked to social media use.”

Statistics on Teenage Depression

The National Institute of Mental Health [6] offers some insight into the prevalence of depression among teenagers, and certain trends.

According to data gathered in 2021:

• 5 million adolescents (20.1% of the U.S. population between 12 and 17) reported at least one major depressive episode.
• Adolescent females are at higher risk of depressive episodes than adolescent males, with a 29.2% prevalence compared to an 11.5%.
• Biracial or mixed-race teenagers tended to have the highest rates of depression, a startling 27.2%.
• Of the adolescents who experienced at least one major depressive episode, only 40.6% of them received treatment within the previous 12 months.

One study [7] compared rates of adolescent depression in 2009 and compared them to rates in 2019. The data showed that depression in teenagers was on the rise—from 8.1% in 2009 to 15.8% a decade later.

As the study makes clear, “Adolescents have reported increasing stress, anxiety, depression, self-harm, and suicidality during the 2000s.”

Long-Term Consequences of Teenage Depression

Adolescent depression can lead to long-term consequences that persist through adulthood.

Depression may persist long after adolescence. It may become severe depression or a major depressive disorder.

Teenagers who suffer from depression are more prone to substance abuse, increasing the likelihood of drug or alcohol addiction problems as they grow into young adults. Smoking and obesity rates are also higher among depressed teenagers, which can lead to serious consequences during the adult years. [8]

Teenagers who suffer from depression may struggle with forming and maintaining social and familial relationships, both during their teen years and later in life.

Suicidal thoughts and plans that lead to teen suicide attempts can have very real—and very permanent—impacts on lifespan.

One study [9] examining the long-term consequences of depression among adolescents found that formerly depressed teenagers had higher in-patient and out-patient visits to hospitals, particularly for mental disorders, anxiety disorders, and drug and alcohol abuse.

Many of the women also suffered from higher prevalence of disorders related to pregnancy (though most were fairly mild).

How to Help a Depressed Teenager

If you notice troublesome behaviors or any of the above-listed depression signs in your teenager, it’s important that you, as the parent, do what you can to help them.

Typically, the simplest way to do that is to talk to them.

Ask them what is going on and what is causing the symptoms (be it acting out, low energy, irritability, or any of the others). Listen to their answers—not just the words, but what is beneath them—and look for any signs that minor troubles may actually be the symptoms masking bigger, deeper problems.

Make it a point to spend extra time with them (as best you can) and keep a close eye on them to see if they manifest more than one of the signs of depression mentioned above.

It may just be a bad day, a bad week, or some turmoil in their life. However, if you’re watching, you’ll be better able to recognize whether it’s a minor issue or a bigger one.

Recognizing When to Seek Professional Help

There will come a time to seek professional depression treatment, and that is when:

• The teen’s depression symptoms interfere in the teen’s life. For example, they can’t get out of bed in the morning, skip school frequently, take up smoking or drinking or drug use, or begin to withdraw socially.
• They start talking about suicide or death, begin making plans, or attempt suicide.

If either of these things happen, it’s a good idea to connect with a mental health professional immediately.

You may be able to go to your school counselor or therapist, or talk to your pediatrician and family doctor.

But it’s imperative that when you notice the signs clearly and notice how they are impacting your child’s life, you seek help to treat depression as soon as possible.

Creating a Supportive Home Environment

A supportive home environment for a teenager with depression will encourage open communication, provide a sense of safety and security, and show respect for the teenager.

Depressed teens may seek conflict with you simply because you are the most convenient target, and your job as the parent is to reduce friction and prevent conflict as much as possible.

Involving your teenager in the decision-making around their own treatment—for example, whether they prefer talk therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)—can give them a sense of agency and help them feel more in control of an otherwise difficult-to-understand situation.

Effective Communication Strategies

Communication with a depressed teenager is not easy. They will likely make it difficult for you to connect with them, may become distant or withdrawn, or may take out their frustration or anger on you.

As the parent, your job is to do what you can to help them at home, while ensuring they have help from trained professionals (mental health experts, therapists, psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors, etc.).

Encouraging Healthy Lifestyle Choices

Help your teenager live a healthy life by:

• Cleaning and maintaining their personal space;
• Taking care of their personal grooming and hygiene;
• Exercising daily;
• Eating a healthy, balanced meal;
• Spending more time outdoors;
• Engaging in mindfulness activities suitable for teens;
• Spending time with others, be it friends, family, or community members;
• Listening to music or reading books that inspire and uplift;
• Taking part in recreational activities and team sports;
• Abstaining from drug and alcohol use.

All of these things can help a teenager to actively combat the symptoms of depression, but also help to improve emotional and mental health.

Resources and Support Systems

Contact your teenager’s school to see what resources they can offer, in the form of counseling or therapy. Anything that can help them develop better coping skills and understand what is going on with their brains can improve your teen’s life.

Connect with your pediatrician or family doctor to get recommendations for adolescent psychiatry or psychology professionals, as your teenager needs.

See what resources your local community has to offer, in terms of counseling, community engagement initiatives, and other programs that will connect your teenager to people who will give them the help they need.

And, most important of all, create a solid support system at home and at school with their friends and family members. Get teachers involved and fellow students to keep an eye on them and help them with their struggles. Create a network of people who are there to offer physical and emotional support as needed every day, no matter what they are dealing with.

The more people understand what challenges they face, the less those challenges are likely to alienate them or make them withdraw or grow isolated.

Wrapping Up

With teenage depression rates climbing, it’s more important than ever for parents to be aware of the problem.

Your child may be at risk of depression due to genetics, environmental influences, stressful situations, or their daily use of social media. Knowing this, it’s extremely important that you watch for the signs and symptoms that could indicate adolescent depression.

And if you see those signs, it’s imperative to seek help from trained professionals, counselors, therapists, and doctors.

Depression can be a burden for any teenager to bear—a heavy one, on top of all their other ordinary adolescent struggles—but they don’t have to bear it alone. With you by their side, loving and supporting them, they’ve got a much better chance of managing, preventing, and, hopefully, coming out the other side healthier and happier.

We hope that these tips will help you get a better understanding of children’s brains and their development. For further guidance on mindfulness, mental health, and parenting, sign up for the free screening of the “Young & Thriving” docuseries. Inside the 10 empowering episodes, you will learn from 43 renowned functional medicine experts who decode kids’ symptoms and show natural protocols for mental resilience and optimal brain development.

Click here to watch “Young & Thriving” for free and discover powerful techniques to support children’s mood, focus, and self-worth. What you’ll learn will allow your loved ones to reach their full potential–no matter the labels and diagnoses they were given by the world of conventional medicine.

Frequently Asked Questions

What age does depression usually start?

While depression can affect anyone at any age, it’s most common in late teen years (15 to 17). For adults, it may begin in their early 20s.

What are the top 3 symptoms of depression?

The top three most common symptoms of depression are a continuous low mood or sadness, feelings of hopelessness or helplessness, and a lack of motivation. Common physical symptoms include appetite changes (increase or decrease) and sleep changes (sleeping more or insomnia). Smoking, drug, and alcohol use are also incredibly common with depression in teenagers.

What is the safest natural antidepressant?

Omega-3 fatty acids (derived from flax seeds and fish) are likely the safest natural antidepressant. A meta-analysis of 20 clinical trials [8] showed that the EPA and DHA in fish oil have a mood-enhancing effect, prevent neuroinflammation, and reduce the effects of cortisol (the stress hormone). According to the data, “supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids at doses about five or more times the standard dietary intake in the United States may yield antidepressant and/or mood stabilizing effects.”

Resources

Teen depression

Teen Depression: More Than Just Moodiness

Teen Depression

Depression in Teens