Adolescent Depression is when teens of any gender constantly feel an extreme and overwhelming sadness for sometimes no reason at all. According to the Mental Health America journal, a recent survey indicated that one in five teens suffer from clinical depression. When asked why teens feel depressed the most common answers include: society pressure, friend groups, relationships, high academic expectations, and hormonal changes. Parents need to understand that depression is a mental illness that can occur at any time in life, though symptoms may differ between teens and adults. Teenagers suffering from depression often lose the excitement and enthusiasm for the activities they used to enjoy, such as school, sports, socializing with friends, and music. If untreated, severe teenager depression can lead to other issues like substance abuse, teen eating disorders, and even suicidal thoughts.
At Key Healthcare we’re known for our diverse and effective teen treatment programs and our ability to create successful teen depression treatment plans catered to each of our teens. Our Teen depression rehab center offers various treatment plans for adolescents in Los Angeles. We provide different types of psychotherapy, such as cognitive-behavioral or interpersonal therapy, one-on-one with a clinical professional, with family members, or in a group. We have unique teen depression treatment programs that fall under specific outpatient programs like Teen Teen PHP, Intensive outpatient programs. Each program is crafted to help teens individually based on the problems they are struggling with.
What Is Teenage Depression?
For a long time, the medical community believed that depression mainly affected adults. Sometimes it’s difficult for parents to understand their child’s depression. Now we know that it can often begin in childhood and can affect teenagers of all ages. Research shows that a large percentage of young people experience a bout of depression by the end of their teenage years. It’s important to note that it is not a “phase” but rather an actual illness that can have dangerous consequences if left untreated.
Mental health professionals strongly advises not to ignore this issue, as the number of teens not getting help is at an all-time high. Nowadays, almost 60% of kids with depression are not getting the proper treatment, and one of the main reasons for that is the stigma that society has imposed on mental health issues. Teen Mental Health Treatment in Los Angeles helps teenagers struggling with mental issues to overcome their struggles with help from clinical staff, structure, and therapy.
How To Recognize Teen Depression Symptoms?
If you suspect that your child might be suffering from depression, you need to understand what the teenager is going through. We all feel sad or down sometimes, but depression is something very different. Depression is when sadness, hopelessness, or apathy never goes away. Once you know that your child is suffering from depression, our guide on 5 ways to get over depression might be helpful. However, a reputable Los Angeles Teen Depression Treatment Program can help teenagers feel this way by providing them with a safe and secure environment.
Someone with depression may be haunted by unhappiness or despair for months or even years. This can severely affect their day-to-day activities, as well as their mood and outlook towards life. It changes the way they think and behave, often for the worse. They can become overly critical of themselves and start feeling unloved, guilty, or worthless.
Depression also causes fatigue, loss of appetite, headaches, and insomnia. These symptoms often lead the person to feel overwhelmed by trivial issues that seem like minor bumps on the road for the rest of us. It is often this difference in perception that makes them feel isolated from everyone else. The lack of social activities, in turn, ends up making them feel even worse.
19 Warning Signs Of Depression That Every Parent Should Know About:
- A constant and overwhelming feeling of sadness or hopelessness.
- Sluggishness or lack of energy. Depressed teenagers often react or work more slowly than their peers.
- Loss of pleasure in activities that they used to enjoy.
- Anxiety and panic attacks.
- Lack of focus.
- An aversion to keeping up appearances or lack of hygiene.
- Having a pessimistic outlook.
- Drastic changes in weight or appetite.
- Feeling guilty, worthless, or too self-critical.
- Lack of Motivation.
- Body image issues.
- Sudden bursts of anger and feelings of distress.
- Heightened irritability.
- Difficulty in concentrating or remembering.
- Lack of organization.
- Withdrawn from friends and family.
- A decline in school performance and resistance to improvement.
- Teen Drug Addiction or Teen alcohol use
- Self-mutilation and suicidal thoughts
This is by no means an exhaustive list. Also, note that your teenager may show one or more symptoms stated above. Contact our experts at Key Healthcare for a free and confidential assessment of your situation.
Different Causes For Teen Depression
Los Angeles Teenage Depression Treatment centers offer helpful programs with therapy and life skills on dealing with teen depression. The symptoms mentioned above can be the result of several causes. One of the most significant setbacks is that teenagers are ill-equipped to handle what they are going through, and societal pressures can overwhelm them. Divorce, neglect, abuse, learning disabilities, and more are examples of situations that make them feel powerless. These negative emotions can have a tremendous impact on how their adult life will play out.
However, this does not mean that only teenagers who face such challenges will be diagnosed with depression. Depression can be inherited. At the same time, someone with no family history of depression can also suffer from it. The point is that many factors can cause this illness: family history, life events, social environments, and even medical conditions. It is simply not possible to pinpoint exactly why a particular teenager is suffering from depression.
For many teens, the cause of depression can be living in a stressful home environment or residing in a neighborhood prone to violence. Other possible triggers include learning disabilities — which can make academic life extremely difficult — hormonal changes, and being a victim of sexual violence.
Drugs and substance abuse can both be the cause and the result of depression. While none of these issues are guaranteed to lead to depression, they should also never be ignored. It is imperative to recognize these symptoms to provide teen depression help they deserve in time.
Teen Depression Statistics
Teen Depression is a severe health concern that needs to be taken seriously. The following statistics are more than just numbers; they are teens suffering and battling depression every day. According to Suicide.org:
- Around 20% of teenagers suffer depression before they become adults.
- Every 100 minutes, a teenager commits suicide.
- For young individuals aged 15 to 24, suicide is the third major cause of death.
- Approximately 10% to 15% of people experience symptoms of depression.
- Only 30% of depressed teenagers are given treatment.
Common Types Of Depression Among Teens
Everyone experiences pain and loss at some point in their lives. These symptoms generally pass in a few days or weeks, depending on the circumstances, but if they persist and impact your teen’s daily life, then they may be suffering from clinical depression. Symptoms of teen depression can range from modest — yet incapacitating — to severe. Depression manifests in a variety of forms. There is no one-size-fits-all explanation, although specific experiences in a person’s life and chemical changes in the brain due to drug misuse or addiction might play a role. One should know about the various types of depression and their unique symptoms to find adequate medical attention and treatment. Here are the most common types of depression among teens.
(1) Major Depression
Also known as major depressive disorder. It is characterized by a depressed mood and a loss of interest and pleasure in everyday life. Moreover, a person suffering from severe depression may be unable to appreciate activities they used to like, and their mood might be irritable at times.
Major depression symptoms include, but are not limited to:
- Experiencing extreme sadness, gloom, or grief.
- Feeling drowsy throughout the day.
- Feeling exhausted and without energy.
- Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much.
- Inexplicable aches and pains.
- Lack of appetite or overeating.
- Having suicidal thoughts or self-harming.
- Loss of enjoyment or interest in hobbies.
- Drastic weight gain or loss.
- Difficulty to make judgments due to a lack of focus.
- Memory issues and Inability to concentrate
- Feelings of despair.
- Continuous tension and worry.
- Feeling restless and agitated.
- Feeling worthless or remorseful.
- Having difficulty concentrating or making judgments.
Depression symptoms can occur daily and last weeks, months, or even a lifetime. However, regardless of the symptoms, major depression will always affect one’s life dramatically.
(2) Persistent Depression
Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD) is a kind of long-term depression. It is a relatively recent diagnosis that combines dysthymia with persistent major depressive illness. PDD, like other forms of depression, is characterized by constant feelings of sorrow and hopelessness. These feelings can last for years, interfering with relationships, schoolwork, and day-to-day activities.
PDD symptoms can include:
- Sleeping too much or too little.
- Excessive irritability or anger.
- Decreased daily activities, effectiveness, and productivity.
- Avoiding social activities.
- Fatigue or a lack of energy.
- Experiencing low self-esteem, self-criticism, or a sense of inadequacy.
- Uninspired and uninterested in life.
- Appetite and weight might increase or decrease.
- Indecisiveness, pessimism, and negative self-perception.
- Having difficulty concentrating and making judgments.
(3) Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is the new term to describe manic depression. This consists of periods of mania or hypomania, where a person feels very happy, alternating with episodes of depression. In other words, people with bipolar disorder have intense emotional states called “mood episodes” that range from extremes of high energy to low depressive periods. People with bipolar disorder can also have “mood swings,” although these usually last hours rather than days. These drastic behaviors can often destroy relationships and make studying, working, or having social interactions challenging.
(4) Depressive Psychosis
Depressive psychosis is a condition in which a person with severe depression loses contact with reality for a long time. This disease involves psychotic symptoms, like experiencing hallucinations and delusions and the sadness and hopelessness that come with depression.
When all these symptoms — hallucinations, delusional thinking, and depression — happen simultaneously, a person is diagnosed with a major depressive disorder with psychotic characteristics. This person might hear, smell, or believe things that are not real. This is particularly dangerous since the delusions might lead to suicidal thoughts.
(5) Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a kind of depression that occurs mainly in the winter, as the days become shorter and the sunshine decreases. It is also known as seasonal depression, and it is recognized as a major depressive illness that is linked to the seasons. It usually disappears when spring arrives, but it can become severe and cause suicidal thoughts. If your teen is experiencing SAD, antidepressants or light therapy can help them.
(6) Situational Depression
Situational depression is often caused by stress and lasts for a brief period of time. It might be diagnosed as an adjustment disorder with a depressed mood. It usually manifests as a result of a teenage traumatic incident or chain of events. Approximately 10% of adults and up to 30% of teens experience this condition at some point.
Some causes of situational depression are the following:
- Death of a loved one.
- Relationship issues.
- Bullying.
- Trauma.
- Family problems.
- Serious illness.
- Legal consequences.
- Divorce of parents.
- Custody of children.
- Life-threatening events.
- Emotional abuse.
- Physical abuse.
(7) Atypical Depression
Atypical depression was once considered a kind of depression, but it’s no longer recognized as a distinct disease by the American Psychiatric Association. It is a fairly common disorder where the depressive mood can temporarily disappear if someone experiences a positive event. People with atypical depression tend to respond better to an antidepressant known as a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) than people with other types of depression.
Here are some possible symptoms of atypical depression:
- Temporary feelings of sadness.
- Excessive sleeping.
- Weight gain due to increased appetite.
- Feeling heavy, weighed down.
- Mild social anxiety, resulting in relationship issues.
(8) Peripartum (Postpartum) Depression
A severe depressive episode that happens during pregnancy or within four weeks after birth is referred to as “peripartum depression.” Note that the term “postpartum depression” refers to a severe depressive episode that occurs within “the first four weeks following birth.”
This is a concerning but curable medical condition, characterized by feelings of intense sorrow, apathy, or worry, as well as changes in energy, sleep, and appetite. It can pose a risk to both the mother and the kid.
Here are some signs of peripartum (postpartum) depression:
- Feeling worthless or remorseful.
- Having difficulty in thinking, focusing, or making judgments.
- Crying uncontrollably.
- Trouble bonding with the child.
- Withdrawing from friends and relatives.
- Suicidal thoughts.
- Irritability and anger are at an all-time high.
- Fear of not being a good mother.
- Lack of attachment to the baby.
- High level of anxiety in regards to the child.
- Fear of harming the baby or oneself.
Depression is a serious issue, regardless of one’s age. The symptoms and treatment vary from person to person, and proper diagnosis is vital to help someone with depression. It is crucial to see a medical expert so your teen can be diagnosed appropriately. To guarantee the safety and well-being of your child, contact professionals for help as soon as possible.
What Treatment Plans Are Available For Teen Depression?
Key Healthcare is one of the best rehabs for teenage depression in LA. We we offer a range of options, including our residential programs for troubled youth who are depressed or have suicidal thoughts or tendencies. Our treatment facilities also have family therapy, to help parents learn how to deal with their teens having depression or anxiety.
There are many different ways to treat teen depression. Of course, this decision should be taken with the help of a certified counselor. Below are some helpful treatment options:
- FDA-approved drugs can help treat depression in teenagers. This is only recommended under the strict guidance of a medical professional. While antidepressants have proven effective in treating clinical depression, teenagers should be closely monitored for suicidal thoughts or behavior. This is especially important during the early weeks of treatment. Parents should understand that talking with their teenagers about suicide will not increase its likelihood. It is suitable for teens to openly talk about their problems and seek professional help if required.
- Help can also be found at treatment centers for depressed teens. Through evidence-based therapy and structure, our adolescent intensive outpatient program can help them deal with their mental health issues and any substance abuse or behavioral issues they might be having.
- Therapy is the best treatment for teenage depression. Psychological counseling or talk therapy is best known for treating depression by talking about depression and related issues with a mental health professional. While individual therapy is done on a one-on-one basis, there is also the option of family therapy and group therapy for adolescent.
- Some teenagers may require psychiatric treatment if the level of the depression is particularly severe. Such treatment is recommended by medical professionals and is done in a hospital setting.
- Changes in lifestyles are positive and will be encouraged by medical health professionals.
How To Remedy Teenage Depression?
Depression is one of the most common mental health issues in the world, and fortunately, there are many great Teen Depression centers in Los Angeles to cure teenage depression. If your teenager is suffering from this treatable condition, now is the time to be proactive. Relatives and friends often don’t recognize when young people suffer from depression, but you can now take the steps needed to give them a helping hand. Depending on the severity of a teenager’s depression and its causes, a clinical expert can help guide them down the right treatment path.
It is time to take an active stance and combat teenage depression. There is no shame in reaching out for assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions About Teen Depression Treatment
How Do You Motivate A Depressed Teenager?
Motivating a teenager with depression is hard. However, one thing you can do is to listen without judgment and be there. Make sure your teen feels that they are not alone in this journey. Your constant support, love, and presence can significantly help in the recovery process.
At the same time, consult a trustworthy expert for advice on how to approach your teen. Doctors may recommend individual, group, or family counseling, therapies, or medicines to help your teen feel better again.
What Age Group Has The Highest Rate Of Depression?
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Association, adolescents aged 12 to 17 years old had the greatest prevalence rate of depression with 14.4%, followed by young adults aged 18 to 25 years old with a record of 13.8%.
Can Teen Depression Run In Families?
Yeah. Depression is common from age 15 to 30 and often runs in households. Often teenagers are diagnosed with severe depression.
What Medication Is Used For Teenage Depression?
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized fluoxetine (Prozac) and escitalopram (Lexapro) as treatments for adolescent depression. Any antidepressants must be prescribed and taken under the doctor’s supervision. Discuss drug alternatives and consider the advantages, risks, and possible side effects with your teen.
In addition, the majority of research suggests that a combination of medications and therapies can dramatically help a person suffering from depression.
Can Teen Depression Go Away Without Medical Treatment?
Teen depression is a severe medical condition that needs attention. Your teen must receive the appropriate teen depression treatment to avoid additional severe problems. The chances to overcome a major depression without medical or clinical assistance are almost non-existent. Remember that your teen’s life is precious, and it must be protected at all costs. If your teen is suffering from depression, do not hesitate and seek help today.
How Can Teenage Depression Be Treated?
There is no one-size-fits-all depression treatment. No matter how severe depression is, there are different ways to manage it, including family therapy, support groups, medication, and healthy lifestyle changes. While only a few depression medications have a formal FDA indication for children and adolescents, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are commonly used. Psychotherapy Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and interpersonal therapy (IPT) are two approaches that are often used to treat depression in teens.
How To Get Help For Teenage Depression?
Call at (213) 319-5401 or schedule a meeting for a complimentary assessment with one of our teen Depression treatment experts. Make changes today, we can help. It’s easy and confidential.
What Percentage Of Teens Experience Depression In Los Angeles?
A study conducted by the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health revealed that 11% of high school students suffer from severe depression.
How To Handle A Depressed Teen Son Or Daughter?
If you have a teen son or daughter suffering from depression, you may feel lost, frustrated, and helpless. The good news is that there are many things you can do to handle your teen kid. We have many success stories where youth and teens got the guidance and necessary help required to come out of substance abuse issues and depression.
What Is The Cost Of Teen Depression Treatment In Los Angeles?
The cost of teen depression treatment in Los Angeles can vary greatly depending on the severity of the condition and the duration of treatment required. We accept most PPO insurance plans.
Which Is The Best Teen Depression Treatment Center?
If you are residing in Los Angeles, Brentwood, Santa Monica, Westwood, Pacific Palisades, or Beverly Hills, and you think your teenager is going through depression. In that case, Key Healthcare is here to help you figure out how to get them through this situation. Most people experience periods of depression at one point or another. For some, however, this illness can become deeply rooted and even be life-threatening. It is time to destigmatize this mental health issue.
Get help as soon as possible. Give your teenager the chance to lead a happy life once again. Call us now if you are interested in learning more about teen trauma treatment & depression treatment programs.
