Depression in children and teens can be hard to recognize.
For example, teens tend to be irritable than sad and often still see their friends.
Below are some signs for parents.
| Signs of Depression |
What Parents May Notice |
| Depressed mood most of the day |
Irritable or cranky mood; preoccupation with song
lyrics that suggest life is meaningless |
| Decreased interest or enjoyment in once-favorite activities
and people |
Loss of interest in sports; withdrawal from friends
and family; relationship problems |
| Significant weight loss or gain |
Losing or gaining weight; change in appetite |
| Sleeping too much or too little |
Excessive late-night TV; difficulty falling asleep
or waking up for school |
| Physical agitation or slowness |
Can’t sit or be still; talk of running away from home,
or efforts to do so |
| Fatigue or loss of energy |
Persistent boredom; sleeping excessively |
| Low self-esteem; feeling guilty |
Saying negative things about oneself; behavior problems
at home or school; being overly sensitive to rejection
|
| Decreased ability to concentrate; indecisive |
Poor performance at school; drop in grades; frequent
absences |
| Unexplained aches and pains |
Frequent complaints of physical pain (headache, stomachache)
|
| Recurrent suicidal thoughts or behavior |
Writing about death; giving away favorite toys or
belongings; "you'd be better off without me."
|
