{"id":9062,"date":"2013-10-03T09:14:10","date_gmt":"2013-10-03T09:14:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.kidstart.co.uk\/blog\/?p=9062"},"modified":"2014-03-24T12:55:18","modified_gmt":"2014-03-24T12:55:18","slug":"teenage-depression","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kidstart.co.uk\/blog\/teenage-depression\/","title":{"rendered":"Teenage depression"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3>There are many pressures that face teens in 2013. As if puberty wasn\u2019t enough to deal with, unemployment levels are high and education fees unaffordable \u2013 the future seems bleak.<\/h3>\r\nSo it\u2019s understandable why many young people struggle to see where they fit within the world.\r\nMental health and wellbeing appears to be under the spotlight in the UK at the moment. This month, I\u2019m offering you tips on how to spot depression amongst teenagers.\r\n\r\nEveryweek I work with young people experiencing some form of depression. Many of these referrals come directly from the young person\u2019s parents, and the most common question I\u2019m asked is \u201c But isn\u2019t this just part of being a teen?\u201d.\r\n<h3>What is depression?<\/h3>\r\nAnyone can experience changes in their mood or feelings, but during adolescence this can be more intense, harder to understand and more likely to swing between positive and negative. This is a normal part of growing up, so it may be hard to recognise. However, depression is a sustained and overwhelming sense of sadness and if left untreated can lead to destructive behaviours later in life.\r\n<h3>Signs and symptoms of depression in teens<\/h3>\r\nHere are some general indicators that might help you differentiate between age-appropriate behavior and symptoms of depression.\r\n\r\n\u2022<em> Irritability<\/em>\r\n<em> \u2022 Tearful episodes<\/em>\r\n<em> \u2022 Withdrawing from friendship groups<\/em>\r\n<em> \u2022 Lack of motivation<\/em>\r\n<em> \u2022 Irregular sleeping patterns \u25aa Restlessness<\/em>\r\n<em> \u25aa Low self esteem<\/em>\r\n<em> \u25aa Fatigue or lack of energy<\/em>\r\n<em> \u25aa Self harming\/ scars on the body<\/em>\r\n<em> \u25aa Falling behind at school<\/em>\r\n<h3>Tips for talking to a depressed teen<\/h3>\r\nIf you\u2019re concerned your teen might be depressed and want to approach them about it, it\u2019s important to consider the following:\r\n<h3>Communicate your support<\/h3>\r\nMake it clear that you\u2019re ready and willing to provide whatever support they need. Even if they don\u2019t initially take you up on your offer, make them feel they can turn to you at a later date.\r\nBe gentle\r\n\r\nUnderstandably, this might be difficult for your son or daughter to talk about, so be mindful of your child\u2019s comfort level. Communicate your willingness to listen as well as your concerns, but be prepared to take it slowly. If they find it hard to talk to you, suggest they write it down and leave it somewhere for you to find.\r\nListen\r\n\r\nIt\u2019s so important to hear what your child is saying and step into their shoes. Try to resist your parental urges \u2013 things like offering advice, passing judgment or asking too many questions can overwhelm them. What\u2019s important is that your child has the time and space to express how they\u2019re feeling.\r\n<h3>Acknowledge<\/h3>\r\nAcknowledging your child\u2019s feelings helps validate their experience. By repeating and reflecting back what they\u2019ve told you, you\u2019re helping them to recognise that their feelings as genuine and worthy. The temptation can be to try to put a positive spin on things. But this can appear like you don\u2019t understand where they\u2019re coming from and can lead to them feeling like they shouldn\u2019t have those feelings\r\nWhere to get help?\r\n\r\nThere are a range of treatments and therapies available to help young people combat their depression. Often a course of counselling or psychotherapy is enough, but in more severe cases, anti-depressants are prescribed. If you\u2019re concerned about someone, the best thing to do is consult your GP who will usually refer you to your local Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS). Treatment from CAMHS is free on the NHS, however waiting lists are long and therefore some people prefer to seek help privately.\r\n<h3>Contributing Source : <a href=\"http:\/\/www.counsellingandtherapy.org\"><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Counselling &amp; Therapy<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/h3>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"There are many pressures that face teens in 2013. As if puberty wasn\u2019t enough to deal with, unemployment levels are high and education fees unaffordable \u2013 the future seems bleak. 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