Causes of Teen Depression

The causes of teen depression can be a mix of hormonal changes and environmental challenges.

Depression in teenagers can also be caused by using drugs or alcohol.

Disturbance in sleep, improper diet and lack of exercises can also create depression in teenagers.

Peer influences are a huge factor in the onset of depression in teens. When peers bully or shut another out it can be a traumatizing experience with lasting consequences.

Ongoing family conflict or marital problems can also be a factor in teenage depression.

According to the National Institute for Health: Depression in teenagers is on the rise.

Suzanne Russell, education coordinator for the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, says "By the year 2020, depression will be the most commonly diagnosed medical condition of women and children."

An

article by Psychology Today Editor at Large, Hara Morano, reflects on the well-meaning if not unconscious culture of parenting in America’s middle class that has far-reaching consequences for causes of teen depression. Treating depression in teens may be more effective if you consider the possibility that you play a part.

*Parenting style, *communication skills,*the degree to which your family lives a health based lifestyle with respect to sleep, diet and exercise

are all factors that impact the risk of depression in teenagers.

Causes of teen depression often come from a parent's inability to step back and allow their teen to begin the process of separating out from the family.

Psychotherapists refer to this normal life transition for young people as "individuation". Teen years are when humans begin to develop an individual identity separate from the family system. It's when they begin to learn to find their own way in the world.

Sometimes it's hard for Mom or Dad to begin to let go. This can create a sense of hopeless in teens. Some teenagers cannot go their own way without the consequences of hurting their parent's feelings.

Many parents seeking treatment for their child benefit from participate in psychotherapy as well.

Signs of Depression in Teenagers

Depressed teens have a negative, pessimistic outlook on the future, general irritability and an inability to concentrate. They commonly engage in substance abuse if treatment doesn't happened early enough.

Don't put off your child's treatment. Early detection and diagnosis are key in treating children with depression.

A child or adolescent psychiatrist or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist can perform a complete evaluation and start a treatment plan that may include cognitive behavioral therapy, depression medication, or both.

But treatment should not stop with your teen. You may need to re-evaluate your parenting style, lifestyle, style of communication - all these factors may be contributing to your teen's depression. Often, a treatment plan that involves the family system is most effective.

Other Depression Pages on This Site