Making Sure That Depressed Teens Get Help

Teenage depression is a serious problem that needs urgent action from those people involved – the parents, friends, teachers, and other significant others. To make sure that the depressed teen gets help, here are some pointers for you.

Before Asking the Depressed Teen to Go Into Therapy

1. Familiarize yourself with depression. Learn what you need to know about it. This way, you will not be hard up in recognizing the signs and symptoms, and taking the steps on what you should do.
2. Look for the common signs and symptoms of teenage depression. Some of these are loss of interest in pleasurable activities, substance abuse and excessive alcohol drinking, hanging out with a bad crowd, school problems, frequent talks about unworthiness, shame worthlessness and talks about suicide.
   
   
3. Talk therapy. Once you have noted that the above signs are present, then you encourage the teen top talk to you about it. You can do the asking in a subtle way, so that the teen will not be shocked and won’t tell you anything about it. Therapeutic communication skills are very much needed here. Do not ask in a blunt way, for you will just get the teen offended. You have to ask at the right time and at the right place. Do it in a manner that will make the depressed teen tell you the truth, not in a manner that will make the teen pull away from you.
4. Be honest. Do not play with words when you are talking to a depressed teenager. Be open and direct, informing him of all your observations. Honesty is very important in building rapport and when the teen sees this in you, then you might be viewed as a person who is there to help, not someone who will just be pitiful.
5. Offer you support. You have to let the depressed teen that in this difficult time, you are always there should you be needed. Keep yourself from asking too many questions especially if the depressed teen is not ready to talk yet. Do not show signs of being pitiful, this will just worsen the situation. Instead of the depressed teen turning to you, he will do otherwise.

During and After The Treatment Period

When a depressed teen is ready to go to the doctor for evaluation and treatment, have yourself available at the teen’s side. The doctor, the hospital, the medicines might be terrifying especially for a person who is having depression. Be there at the teen’s side, showing that he is not alone in the road to recovery. When you are a family member, then it is very important that you stay with your depressed teen.

When you get overwhelmed by what is happening to your friend, student, or family member, then go ahead and talk to someone. These things may cause you to be exhausted so you have to think of yourself also. When you yourself are not feeling good, then how will you be able to help someone else? Stay healthy, eat well, do your exercise routines, and go on with your usual activities. What is important that you add helping the depressed teen in your intenerary.

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