Young people can feel sad and worried about life events such as exams, fights with family or friends, changing schools or moving house.
If the feelings of sadness go on for weeks or months and affect everyday life, the young person may have depression.
Symptoms of depression in young people include feeling grumpy, having trouble sleeping, feeling worthless or guilty, eating more or less than usual and gaining or losing weight.
There is no single cause of depression, but it can develop from life events, genetic dispositions, hormones, or any combination of those factors.
Encourage young people to talk about how they feel with someone they know and trust such as a parent, teacher, school counsellor, family member or friend.
An important next step is for the young person to visit a doctor to learn about depression and how it is treated.
Feeling sad or moody sometimes is a part of life. Young people can feel sad and worried about life events such as exams, fights with family or friends, changing schools or moving house.
Sometimes, the feelings of sadness go on for weeks or months and affect everyday life. If a young person feels miserable most of the time and finds it difficult to get motivated, they may have depression – a serious illness that can affect people of all ages.
Suicide is a common cause of death in young people, so depression should be taken seriously.
Symptoms of depression in young people
Like everyone, young people can have occasional mood swings, feel irritable sometimes and be particularly sensitive to rejection and criticism. But if these symptoms and behaviours have lasted for two weeks or more, the young person could have depression.
Symptoms that may indicate depression include:
feeling irritable or grumpy
feeling tired
feeling worthless or guilty most of the time
having thoughts of death or suicide
having trouble sleeping – either falling asleep or staying asleep
lacking motivation and feeling everything is too hard
losing interest in food or eating too much
losing weight or gaining weight
lack of interest in their hobbies
not looking after their own hygiene
using cigarettes, alcohol or illegal drugs.
Sometimes there are no obvious symptoms of depression, but parents may notice behavioural changes in young people that suggest depression and should not be ignored. These include:
social withdrawal
lower marks at school
changes in mood and behaviour
risk-taking behaviour
use of alcohol and drugs.
Suicide or self-harm
Depression is one of the major risk factors for suicide and self-harm. If a young person is self-harming or talking about suicide, it is important that they talk with close and trusted people in their lives, such as family or friends.
Help them to be safe and remove dangerous items, such as medication, things that could be used as a weapon or other dangerous items, and encourage and support them to see a healthcare professional. If they need to talk to somebody right away, they can call Lifeline (13 11 14) or Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800). In case of an emergency, call triple zero (000) and ask for help.
Causes of depression in young people
Depression is a mental illness, and it is one of the most common health problems for young people in Australia. There is no single cause of depression; life events, hormones, chemical imbalances, and genetics can all play differing roles depending on the individual. While each young person will have their own responses to life events, some circumstances that can contribute to anxiety and depression in young people include:
experiencing a relationship break-up, recent death, abuse or neglect.
In all cases, it is important that depression is diagnosed and treated early and that the focus is on treatment, not just causes.
Treatment for depression in young people
Encourage young people to talk about how they feel with someone they know and trust, such as a parent, teacher, school counsellor, family member or friend.
An important next step is for the young person to visit their doctor to learn whether they have depression and what can be done to treat it. Support for people with depression can include psychological therapy that focuses on building skills to deal with life stresses and to change negative thinking patterns, as well as lifestyle changes (including creating exercise and sleeping routines).
Your doctor may also add antidepressant medication to the treatment plan. It can take up to six weeks to feel better after treatment with medication begins, but most young people will notice an improvement. Encourage them to speak with their doctor about any changes in their moods.
Self-help tips for improving mental health include:
exercising regularly
eating healthy food
practising relaxation techniques
speaking regularly with trusted friends and family
engaging in creative pursuits, for example painting or song writing
setting small goals
doing something enjoyable.
Many people find it hard to ask for professional help and sometimes young people do not want to go to a healthcare professional. If this is the case, you could let them know that depression is common and that you are concerned.
Try giving them some information about depression and also point out some of the comprehensive websites (such as ReachOut, youthbeyondblue, Kids Helpline, and headspace), as well as the online and telephone counselling services available for young people.
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