It’s not uncommon for teenagers to struggle with some levels of depression during their teen years. Nearing the end of a global pandemic, more teenagers than ever before are reporting feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and isolation. After missing in person social milestones like graduations and proms, it’s easy to understand why teenagers might be struggling more than ever with symptoms of mental health issues and depression. This doesn’t make it easier to watch.
If you’re a parent or family member of a teenager struggling with depression, it’s likely that you’re feeling helpless. The great news is that there are many things you can do to help a teen showing signs of depression. For three resources for teenagers struggling with depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues, read on.
1. Asking for Help From Professionals
Teen depression being more common and on the rise doesn’t make teen mental health issues less serious. If the teen in your life is struggling, or you suspect they suffer from a mood disorder, the first thing you’ll want to do is contact a licensed therapist who specializes in working with young adults.
Through family therapy, individual therapy, cognitive behavior therapy, or a variety of other therapeutic modalities, a licensed psychotherapist will be able to assess your teenager’s mental health issues and recommend a treatment plan to help them begin recovery.
Many parents hold off on seeing a licensed professional because their teens are resistant, they don’t know much about treatment centers, or have had bad experiences with psychiatrists. The reality is that residential treatment programs for teenage depression are actually highly supportive places that can help your teen in important ways. If you’ve been resistant to getting professional mental health help for your teenager because you aren’t sure about treatment programs or how residential treatment centers work, it’s a good idea to have a conversation with your child’s doctor. You might be surprised at the variety of options out there when it comes to helping your child.
From medication and DBT therapy to check-ins with a school counselor or other mentor, doctors and psychotherapists can work together as a treatment team to meet your child and family where you’re at.
2. Spending Quality Time with a Teenager
For teens who are feeling down and haven’t been diagnosed with a serious mental health condition like bipolar disorder, a personality disorder, or suicidal ideation, sometimes, the best thing a parent can do is spent dedicated time with their child. Even if your child is experiencing teenage behavioral issues, now might be a good time to plan a family trip as a way of spending quality time together.
Many teens are, at first, resistant to things like long road trips with parents and siblings. That’s perfectly normal. In allowing your child to pick the final destination or to help pack for a road trip, you may find that getting them more involved with decision-making helps perk up their interest.
3. Bringing in Spirituality
Like adults, no two adolescents are the same. Where one teen might respond well to art therapy or psychotherapy, another would do better with equine therapy and that long road trip with family. You know your child best. For some parents, teens who are religious or spiritual will respond best to being better connected to their natural faith systems.
The same way a person with a substance use disorder might surrender their recovery to a higher power in a 12-step program, many teenagers find it useful to do the same when it comes to a major depression. If you find that your teen is turning toward God and religion for help, consider picking up a Bible or ordering a few Bible covers to support this interest. The combination of you noticing and having a Bible to depend on could make a big difference to your teen’s overall mental health.
While watching a teenager cope with depression is hard, helping the adolescent in your life to get connected with resources, lending a listening ear, and offering unconditional support can all help the teen you care about through a challenging time. Like for anyone, sometimes, a teenager knowing they have people who care about them can be the first step to feeling better.