Depression and Mood
Understand what your teen is going through so you, as a parent, can truly be there for them.
Empower your teenager to build resilience and learn valuable coping strategies in individual therapy sessions.
Support them on the path to enjoying life again and finding joy in the little things.
Common Symptoms of Teenage Depression
Witnessing your teenager struggle with depression can be incredibly difficult. You may feel overwhelmed, uncertain, and unsure of how to best support them.
At FFEW, we understand the challenges you’re facing and are here to provide guidance and support. These are key symptoms of depression you may observe:
- Persistent sadness or irritability
- Withdrawal from friends and previously enjoyed activities
- Significant changes in sleep patterns – sleeping too much or too little
- Noticeable shifts in academic performance
Unexplained physical symptoms or ailments - Negative self-talk and low self-esteem such as feelings of worthlessness
Understanding Teenage Depression
As a parent, watching your teenager struggle with their mental health can be one of the most challenging experiences. You may be wondering if what you’re seeing is more than just typical teenage moodiness. It’s normal to feel worried, confused, and even a bit helpless.
Teenagers naturally experience a wide range of intense emotions, characterized by occasional moodiness and reactions to specific life events. These emotional fluctuations are typically proportional to circumstances and don’t significantly impair daily functioning. A teen might feel sad after a breakup, frustrated with school, or irritable during stressful times, but can still find joy in activities and maintain social connections.
Teenager mood swings or depression?
Depression, on the other hand, is a persistent condition that permeates nearly every aspect of a teenager’s life, creating a pervasive sense of hopelessness that doesn’t lift. Unlike normal emotional ups and downs, a depressive disorder causes a comprehensive loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities, significant social withdrawal, and a profound impact on academic and personal functioning. While it can be normal to experience short depressive episodes that resolve naturally, long-lasting spells can be signs of a major depressive disorder and require psychological intervention.
Common in young adults
Depression is more common among teenagers than many people realize. Approximately 20% of teens experience depression symptoms at some point during their teenage years. Depression often manifests through noticeable changes in behaviour, mood, and daily functioning. They may be spending time alone instead of seeing friends, feeling low energy even with sufficient sleep, or continuously having a hard time in school with no changes. While some stress is normal, it’s important to pay close attention to your teens, especially if there is a family history of mental health problems.
You’re not alone. We have resources and support available to help guide you and your teen.
Youth Depression Treatment
Therapy for the Child/Adolescent
Individual Therapy with a Skilled Therapist
We incorporate the latest research about effective treatments and tailor it with sensitivity to the experiences and needs of each child or adolescent seeking our support. As health care providers specializing in mental health conditions, we follow strict clinical practice guidelines when working with your family.
At FFEW we recommend that parents are also actively involved in treatment as this generally leads to quick and long-lasting change, particularly for children. It is amazing how much parents’ participation can improve children’s mental health.
Depression Treatment Options
Depending on the presentation of symptoms, psychotherapy treatments may include the following interventions:
Our treatment combines evidence-based therapies tailored to each child’s unique needs, with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) serving as our primary therapeutic framework. We work collaboratively with children, teens and their families, focusing on understanding the interconnections between thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.
We also draw on key modules of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and Mindfulness-Based Interventions, to help teenagers develop practical coping skills, regulate emotions, improve problem-solving abilities, and rebuild their sense of hope and engagement with life.
Our goal is not just to address symptoms, but to empower teens with the tools they need to navigate challenges, build resilience, and foster long-term emotional well-being.
Benefits of Therapy for Teens with Depression
Having a supportive parent for a teenager with depression is helpful. However, with a therapist, the teenager finds a space that’s truly their own. This privacy matters, especially if the teen is living with family conflict at home. With a therapist, they can talk openly and not feel afraid to upset their parents or scare them. Unfortunately, it is very common for teenagers to not share the intensity of their symptoms, such as suicidal thoughts, because they don’t want to worry their parents. This is why, if you are noticing signs of depression, it’s important to seek outside help and not try to deal with this only at home.
The benefits of therapy for teenage depression include:
- Improved mood
- Increased motivation
- Better social life
- A renewed interest in hobbies
- Noticing the positive things in life
- Overall, a higher quality of life
How can parents help with teenage depression?
Active parent involvement is a must. However, doing it the right way matters so you don’t push your teen too hard and they shut down completely. They need to know they can rely on you and trust you. How to get there? Our psychologists will teach you.
The base must always be open communication and creating a supportive home environment. It never hurts to encourage healthy lifestyle habits such as light physical activity. Most importantly, lead by example and invite your teen to join so they don’t have to tackle it alone, because they may feel like it’s impossible for them.
Finally, parents have a big role here—they must be willing and open to working on their own emotional regulation and mindfulness. This is important because when we feel lost in the battle with depression, we may not employ the healthiest response behaviours. Understanding what your teen is going through by seeking education from skilled professionals, such as our psychotherapists at FFEW, is vital.
The importance of early intervention in teenage depression
Untreated depression can increase the risk of suicide, which is the fourth leading cause of death in 15-29-year-olds, according to the World Health Organization.
Fortunately, all forms of this disorder respond well to treatment, whether it’s light or severe. The first approach is always psychological sessions. Sometimes, antidepressant medication, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) is necessary, including for depressed teens. The combination of medication and individual or group psychotherapy is effective for treating major depression in young people.
Depression may be connected to other psychiatric disorders such as bipolar disorder, which requires different treatment. A depressed mood may also be a byproduct of substance abuse, or even too-frequent social media use (if, for example, the teen is constantly comparing themselves to celebrities). Unfortunately, the rates of depression have only gone up in teenagers. If you are feeling concerned, please reach out. We are here to help.