When raising teenagers, it can be difficult to gauge their mood or mental state, especially in an increasingly digitized world where they spend most of their time on their cell phones or another type of devices. They tend to shut their parents off and spend most of their time with friends and others their age. But it is important to have discussions with your kids about how they are feeling, if they need extra help and support, and reinforce that they can come to you with anything.

Social anxiety in teens is on the rise. So are depression, substance abuse, eating disorders, and other common mental health concerns. But teenagers are also moody and unpredictable. It can be difficult to tell if your child is simply having a rough page or bad day or if they’re suffering from a serious mental health issue.

In this article, we’re going to break down some common warning signs to look for when making your parental diagnosis about your teens. While moodiness is a common symptom of depression and other mental health disorders, sometimes it stands alone as an innate quality of teenagers. We aim to help paint a clearer picture so you can feel confident about knowing the difference. First, let’s take a look at the numbers.

Depression Statistics for Adolescents

According to a 2019 article by the Pew Research Center, depression is on the rise among teens in America. In fact, according to a survey, in 2017, 13 percent of U.S. teens ages 12 to 17 (or 3.2 million) said they had experienced at least one major depressive episode in the past year, up from 8 percent (or 2 million) in 2007.

• Girls are affected disproportionately. One in five teenage girls experienced at least one major depressive episode in 2017. Only 7 percent of teenage boys reported a major depressive episode in that time.
• The total number of teenagers who recently experienced depression increased by 59 percent between 2007 and 2017.
• Seven-in-ten U.S. teens said anxiety and depression is a major problem among people their age in the community where they live.

What Are Symptoms of Depression?

Part of the confusion in determining the difference between moodiness and depression is the fact that moodiness is a primary symptom of depression. According to WebMD, other common symptoms that might indicate you have depression include:

• Your mood is depressed for most of the day, especially in the morning.
• You feel tired or have a lack of energy almost every day.
• You feel worthless or guilty almost every day.
• You feel hopeless or pessimistic.
• You have a hard time focusing, remembering details, and making decisions.
• You can’t sleep, or you sleep too much almost every day.
• You have almost no interest or pleasure in many activities nearly every day.
• You often think about death or suicide (not just a fear of death).
• You feel restless or slowed down.
• You’ve lost or gained weight.

A key determining factor in diagnosing depression in your teen is the consistency and severity of the symptoms. If you constantly notice these symptoms over an extended period of time, or if they are so severe that you can’t help but notice them, it’s important to talk to your teen about getting them some help or having them talk to a professional.

Watch out for drastic changes in their interests, behavior, eating habits, suicidal ideas or jokes, change in physical activity or school performance, substance abuse, or sleeping habits. If they appear moody for a day or two and it tends to fade, without drastic changes in their daily schedule, it’s likely they are just moody. But it’s important to start a dialogue with them about their ability to talk to you about anything. That way, if their condition worsens, they can come to you as a haven for their feelings.

Ways to Help Prevent or Improve Depression

There is depression treatment for teens and can find ways to help prevent depressive episodes. Below is a list of some productive things to do with your child to not only improve your communication skills as parents and children but improve mental health for you both.

Talk to Your Kids Often

Make sure your kids know that they can talk to you by treating them like adults and having adult-like conversations. Allow you to lay out their feelings for you on their own time. Talk about any potential depression history in your family, and talk about potentially using some medicine as a crutch. There are several medicines available proven to help with symptoms of depression.

Do Outdoor Activities Together

Spending time together in a fun, low-pressure environment can not only strengthen your bond with your kids, but it can also improve your mental health as well as theirs. Studies show outdoor activities, particularly physical ones, have tremendous benefits for depressed individuals. It can release chemicals in your brain that, long story short, make you feel happier and despair less.

Take Care of Yourself As A Parent

It can be difficult to help your child if you’re suffering from difficult mental health issues. Much like an oxygen mask on an airplane, you need to make sure you’re in a healthy place before helping your children. Set a positive example about dealing with mental health issues. It reinforces to your children that there is a healthy way to cope and a strong example of getting through tough times.

Promote Healthier Eating At Home

A healthy body provides a healthy mind. Certain fried, processed, fat-heavy foods can actually make your body feel depressed, which could impact your mental state. It sounds cliche, but fruits and vegetables actually go a long way in improving your mood, productivity, and energy levels.

Use Positive Reinforcement and Handle Issues Together

Let your child know that it’s okay to be depressed. It happens to nearly everyone, and often it’s uncontrollable. Ensure they know there’s nothing wrong with them. Have productive talks about potentially going to therapy or taking medicine. Most importantly, let them know they aren’t alone. You can handle anything as a family.

Conclusion

If you believe your teen is simply moody, it doesn’t hurt at all to screen them for depression or have talks with them about how they are feeling.

Depression isn’t something to be taken lightly. Watch for consistent, severe symptoms, and make strides to improve the quality of life at home by doing fun things together and having important conversations.