Depression and Teenagers

It can be easy to miss signs of depression in teenagers, especially since moodiness is so common in the adolescent years. And what we think of as depression — sadness and feeling down — often isn’t the whole picture. Irritability and anger can also be symptoms of depression, and they’re frequently misinterpreted. Research shows that teenagers of color are especially vulnerable to getting the wrong diagnosis — or being dismissed as behavior problems — when they show signs of depression and other mood disorders.

This week we feature resources on childmind.org for identifying depression in teenagers, who are often reluctant to share their feelings with the adults in their life, or ask for help. We take a look at how angry outbursts can be a sign of depression, and how treatment can help kids who are depressed feel better and thrive.