Depression in Teens
Posted: January 24, 2008Would you know if your teenager was depressed ?
Most parents would answer “Yes” to that question.
In a recent survey of over 900 parents of teenagers, 9 out of 10 were confident that they could tell if their kids were suffering from depression.
But only a third of seriously depressed teenagers are ever diagnosed by a parent, a doctor or a teacher. Dr David Schaffer estimates that about 1 in 20 teenagers suffer from depression.
And about 1/ 3 of these kids will make a serious attempt at sucide. The best way to diagnose teens with depression is through confidential screening test.
Teens who would not talk openly about their struggles tend to disclose them more easily in written tests if they know that the results will be kept private.
Ways to get your teens out of depression:
1. Spent time listening to them.
Listen to them when they talk and parents not to jump into conclusion or assumptions.
2. Do not nag at them
Nagging will make them close up
3. Get them to socialize with more friends
Get them to invite their friends over to the home to play or to have meals.
4. Get them to express their feelings through creative activities like drawing, music.
5. Provide encouragement and praise especially if depression is due to lack of self-esteem.
