
Understanding signs of depression in your teen might be a little challenging sometimes. After all, being in a bad mood or acting a bit surly is pretty typical behavior for a teen, even on a relatively “normal” day.
But sometimes, you have an idea that maybe things are a little worse than that. You should take these signs very seriously and seek help for your teen, even if they seem like they don’t want it.
Dr. Judy E. Vansiea of Coping Nurse Practitioner in Psychiatry Services explains more about how to recognize the signs of depression in your teen and when you should seek help for them.
It can sometimes feel a bit difficult to detect the signs of depression in your teen. After all, being in a bad mood may seem pretty much like business as usual. But some signs are definitely more likely to indicate that a problem with depression or mental health may be happening:
Any of these issues are possible signs of depression in teens, especially if they’re new symptoms.
In addition, you want to watch out for behavioral changes. Some common behavioral changes we sometimes see in teens with depression:
Any of these signs alone is a good enough reason to seek help for your teen.
Sometimes, you recognize just a little bit too late that your teen needed help, and that may not always warrant a call to Dr. Vansiea first. If there’s a life-threatening emergency, you should treat it accordingly.
Signs of an emergency situation include:
Sometimes, your teen may be attempting to make a cry for help. If this is what’s happening, Dr. Vansiea can help you identify whether it’s something you can handle yourself.
If your teen is engaging in acts of self-harm or attempting suicide, you need to seek emergency services first. After your teen is declared stable enough, then we can establish an ongoing treatment relationship between them and Dr. Vansiea.
If your teen needs help, call Dr. Judy E. Vansiea at Coping Nurse Practitioner in Psychiatry Services today at 516-247-3525 or book online to schedule your appointment.