Original source overview
What is depression in teens?Depression in teens (ages 13-17) is a serious medical illness. It's more than just a feeling of being sad or "blue" for a few days. It is an intense feeling of sadness, hopelessness, and anger or frustration that lasts much longer. These feelings make it hard for you to function normally and do your usual activities. You may also have trouble focusing and have no motivation or energy. Depression can make you feel like it is hard to enjoy life or even get through the day.
What causes depression in teens?Many factors may play a role in depression, including:
• Genetics. Depression can run in families. • Brain biology and chemistry. • Hormones. Hormone changes can contribute to depression. • Stressful childhood events such as trauma, the death of a loved one, bullying, and abuse.
Which teens are at risk of depression?Depression can happen at any age, but often begins in the teens or early adulthood. Certain teens are at higher risk of depression, such as those who:
• Have other mental health conditions, such as anxiety, eating disorders, and substance use • Have other diseases, such as diabetes, cancer, and heart disease • Have family members with mental illness • Have a dysfunctional family/family conflict • Have problems with friends or other kids at school • Have learning disabilities or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) • Have had trauma in childhood • Have low self-esteem, a pessimistic outlook, or poor coping skills
What are the symptoms of depression in teens?If you have depression, you have one or more of these symptoms most of the time:
• Sadness • Feeling of emptiness • Hopelessness • Being angry, irritable, or frustrated, even at minor things
You also may also have other symptoms, such as:
• No longer caring about things you used to enjoy • Changes in weight, such as losing weight when you are not dieting or gaining weight from eating too much • Changes in sleep, such as having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, or sleeping much more than usual • Feeling restless or having trouble sitting still • Feeling very tired or not having energy • Feeling worthless or very guilty • Having trouble concentrating, remembering information, or making decisions • Thinking about dying or suicide
How is depression in teens diagnosed?If you think you might be depressed, tell someone that you trust, such as your:
• Parents or guardian • Teacher or counselor • Doctor
The next step is to see your doctor for a checkup. Your doctor can first make sure that you do not have another health problem that is causing your depression. To do this, you may have a physical exam and lab tests.
If you don't have another health problem, you will get a psychological evaluation. Your doctor may do it, or you may be referred to a mental health professional to get one. You may be asked about things such as:
• Your thoughts and feelings • How you are doing at school • Any changes in your eating, sleeping, or energy level • Whether you are suicidal • Whether you use alcohol or drugs
How is depression in teens treated?Effective treatments for depression in teens include talk therapy, or a combination of talk therapy and medicines:
Talk therapy
Talk therapy, also called psychotherapy or counseling, can help you understand and manage your moods and feelings. It involves going to see a therapist, such as a psychiatrist, a psychologist, a social worker, or counselor. You can talk out your emotions to someone who understands and supports you. You can also learn how to stop thinking negatively and start to look at the positives in life. This will help you build confidence and feel better about yourself.
There are many different types of talk therapy. Certain types have been shown to help teens deal with depression, including:
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which helps you to identify and change negative and unhelpful thoughts. It also helps you build coping skills and change behavioral patterns. • Interpersonal therapy (IPT), which focuses on improving your relationships. It helps you understand and work through troubled relationships that may contribute to your depression. IPT may help you change behaviors that are causing problems. You also explore major issues that may add to your depression, such as grief or life changes.
Medicines
In some cases, your doctor will suggest medicines along with talk therapy. There are a few antidepressants that have been widely studied and proven to help teens. If you are taking medicine for depression, it is important to see your doctor regularly.
It is also important to know that it will take some time for you to get relief from antidepressants:
• It can take 3 to 4 weeks until an antidepressant takes effect • You may have to try more than one antidepressant to find one that works for you • It can also take some time to find the right dose of an antidepressant
In some cases, teenagers may have an increase in suicidal thoughts or behavior when taking antidepressants. This risk is higher in the first few weeks after starting the medicine and when the dose is changed. Make sure to tell your parents or guardian if you start feeling worse or have thoughts of hurting yourself.
You should not stop taking the antidepressants on your own. You need to work with your doctor to slowly and safely decrease the dose before you stop.
Programs for severe depression
Some teens who have severe depression or are at risk of hurting themselves may need more intensive treatment. They may go into a psychiatric hospital or do a day program. Both offer counseling, group discussions, and activities with mental health professionals and other patients. Day programs may be full-day or half-day, and they often last for several weeks.
Encyclopedic background — Wikipedia
The following selected excerpts provide background on “Depression in childhood and adolescence”. This related background source does not cover every aspect of the specific topic “Teen Depression”; population-specific details and decisions should be checked in the original topic source. They are not a substitute for the source overview or current local clinical guidance. Each excerpt below comes from the fixed Wikipedia revision [W1].
Definition and overview [W1]
Major depressive disorder, often simply referred to as depression, is a mental disorder characterized by prolonged unhappiness or irritability. It is accompanied by a constellation of somatic and cognitive signs and symptoms such as fatigue, apathy, sleep problems, loss of appetite, loss of engagement, low self-regard/worthlessness, difficulty concentrating or indecisiveness, or recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.
Depression in childhood and adolescence is similar to adult major depressive disorder, although young sufferers may exhibit increased irritability or behavioral dyscontrol instead of the more common sad, empty, or hopeless feelings that are seen with adults. Children who are under stress, experiencing loss or grief, or have other underlying disorders are at a higher risk for depression. Depression in young people is often comorbid with mental disorders outside of other mood disorders, most commonly anxiety disorders, especially social anxiety disorder, and conduct disorder. Depression also tends to run in families. The National Alliance on Mental Illness reports that 75 percent of mental health disorders commence by age 24. In a 2016 Cochrane review, cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), third-wave CBT, and interpersonal therapy demonstrated small positive benefits in the prevention of depression. Psychologists have developed different treatments to assist children and adolescents suffering from depression, though the legitimacy of the diagnosis of childhood depression as a psychiatric disorder, as well as the efficacy of various methods of assessment and treatment, remains controversial.
Reading this topic in context
Use “Teen Depression” as a starting point for a focused discussion, rather than treating every statement in the broader encyclopedia article as applying to you. The original source overview and the background excerpts answer different questions: the overview explains the health topic for readers, while the encyclopedia supplies terminology and general context. Keep a record of which questions concern symptoms, a confirmed diagnosis, prevention, or an existing treatment. This helps a healthcare professional address the relevant issue without relying on an internet label.
Questions to take to a professional
1. How can the young person take part in a confidential, age-appropriate assessment?
2. What support, safety planning and follow-up should family and clinicians coordinate?
Evidence, scope and next steps
The health-topic overview is attributed to MedlinePlus / the National Library of Medicine at the original topic link below. Wikipedia [W1] is a secondary background source; its references can support further reading, but their presence is not evidence that WellPrimer has independently reviewed every study. No clinical review, guideline certification or NLM endorsement is claimed. For screening intervals, diagnostic thresholds, pregnancy or child-specific advice and treatment choices, check current guidance in your country with a qualified professional. Do not start, stop or change a prescribed medicine based on encyclopedia excerpts. New or worsening symptoms need appropriate clinical assessment rather than more reading alone.
Attribution and reuse
[W1] Wikipedia contributors, “Depression in childhood and adolescence”. Version 1379555623, edited 2026-10-10. Retrieved 2026-10-16. Fixed revision: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Depression_in_childhood_and_adolescence&oldid=1379555623. Contributor history: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Depression_in_childhood_and_adolescence&action=history. License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ .
The MedlinePlus health-topic summary retains its original attribution. Wikipedia excerpts and the added compilation/commentary are shared under CC BY-SA 4.0; selections, section ordering and editorial reading prompts have been added. No images are reused. This is an educational compilation, not a clinician-reviewed guideline.