The Nexus Teen Academy editorial and clinical team is dedicated to providing informative and accurate content to help families who are struggling with adolescent behavioral health problems. The editorial team works directly with the clinical team to ensure information is accurate and up-to-date.
To do this, our team uses the following editorial guidelines:
We generally only cite government and peer-reviewed studies
Scientific claims and data are backed by qualified sources
Content is updated to ensure we are citing the most up-to-date data and information
Clinically reviewed by Executive Director Hannah Carr, LPC
Executive Director Hannah Carr, LPC
Hannah graduated from Arizona State University with her Bachelor’s in Psychology and Master’s in Counseling and is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Arizona. She began her work as a therapist 12 years ago in South Phoenix with an intensive outpatient program for teens and their families. She joined Nexus in the residential program as the clinical director, eventually being promoted to the executive director, creating and building the clinical program structure and a strong culture focused on redirecting the trajectory of young lives.
The Nexus Teen Academy Editorial Staff is composed of writers, editors, and clinical reviewers with many years of experience writing about mental health and behavioral health treatment. Our team utilizes peer-reviewed, clinical studies from sources like SAMHSA to ensure we provide the most accurate and current information.
Teen depressionis more common than you realize. According to a study by Mental Health America, it is estimated that in 2024,over 20% of teens experienced a major depressive episode. 15% of teenagers were severely impaired and could not attend school, work, or function at home. The numbers in Arizona are higher than the national average. It is estimated that 23% of teenagers in Arizona experienced a major depressive episode in the past year. As a parent or guardian, you should help your teen if they are struggling with depression.
This article will guide parents, caregivers, and teachers on what steps they can take to help depressed teenagers and provide practical strategies for overcoming depression. If you would like immediate assistance for helping your teenager with depression, contactNexus Teen Academytoday. Our team will happily guide you through our mental health treatment programs.
Understanding Depression in Teenagers
Teenagers have a tough time as they enter adolescence. Hormonal fluctuations, societal pressures, and psychological changes can leave them feeling moody and irritable. Parents of depressed teens often think it is a phase or typical teenage mood swings. Depression is more than that. It is acomplex, serious, but treatable mental health condition that causes teenagers to experience overwhelming sadness. It has a debilitating effect on their lives and makes it hard for them to go about their daily lives.
If you notice that your teen is persistently sad, they may have depression.
What Teen Depression Looks Like
Depression looks different in everyone. Some teenagers may hide their sadness better than others. However, the following are common symptoms of depression in teens:
An overwhelming sense of sadness and a persistent negative mood
Loss of interest in activities
Social withdrawal
Irritability
Frequent crying bouts
Sensitivity to criticism and other comments
Feelings of guilt, shame, helplessness, hopelessness, and worthlessness
Low self-worth
Engaging in risky behavior, such as unsafe sexual practices
Drug and substance abuse
Smartphone addiction
Fatigue and a lack of motivation
Insomnia or sleeping too much
Changes in appetite
If your teen exhibits a combination of these symptoms, it may be a sign that they are depressed.
How to Support Your Teen with Depression
Teens recovering from depression require a lot of emotional support. As a parent or guardian, you are responsible for ensuring your teen is doing okay. Here are a few tips:
Be Present and Validate Their Feelings
Validating your teen’s emotions is one of the most important things you can do to support them. Many parents make the mistake of dismissing their teen’s condition. Some think that depression is not real or that it is a sign of weakness. Do not make the same mistake. Validate your teen’s emotions and be compassionate. Tell them you understand how it feels to be sad. Use your own experiences to show that you understand. Doing this will help them feel less lonely and improve their outlook on life.
Similarly, you should always be present for your teen. Do not avoid them or pass the responsibility of caring for them to someone else. Depressed teenagers need parental support more than anything. Be present for them and listen to them intently. Avoid interrupting them or offering instant fixes. This will help strengthen your relationship and will motivate your teen to overcome depression.
Build Trust Through Consistent Compassion
Trust is the cornerstone of every successful relationship. Depression can strain interpersonal relationships and lead to a loss of trust. As a parent or guardian, you should work hard to rebuild trust. Give your teenager a safe space to express themselves without fear of judgment. Discussing depression can be hard for both of you. Although it is challenging, be receptive and open to talking about depression. Remain compassionate and avoid dismissive or minimizing language. Negative comments may ruin the trust you have worked so hard to build. It may also worsen your teen’s negative thoughts, making it hard to overcome depression.
Practical Ways to Help a Depressed Teen
Supporting your teen emotionally is essential. However, without practical strategies, your teen may lack the skills to overcome depression. The following are everyday support techniques that build stability and hope:
Gently Encourage Routine and Self-Care
Depression can make it hard for teens to eat, clean up after themselves, or get out of bed. As a parent or guardian, you should gently encourage your teen to develop a routine. Routine creates a stable and predictable environment, which is less overwhelming. An unpredictable environment can be overwhelming because it floods your teen’s senses.
An important part of a daily routine is setting time for various activities. Getting out of bed at a set time will provide structure and predictability. Encourage your teen to get out of bed and open the curtains and blinds. Natural light can help improve their mood. You should also set times for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Marking these activities gives your teen something to look forward to. This will motivate them to get out of bed, shower, and sleep on time. A consistent routine is essential for teens recovering from depression.
Use positive reinforcement techniques to encourage your teen to develop a routine. Praise their effort and give them lots of love. For example, if your teen struggles to get out of bed, give them their favorite snack to encourage them. When they sit up in bed, praise their effort. These small wins can help your teen overcome depression.
Promote Low-Pressure Activities and Interests
Daily activities can be overwhelming for a teen struggling with depression. As a result, you should promote low-pressure activities and interests. Instead of forcing them to attend their soccer practice, play with them in the backyard. Make difficult tasks taste easier. For example, handwashing dishes can be overwhelming. Split the chore into two and work with them to tackle it. Suggest that they rinse the dishes while you wash them. When you break the tasks into smaller activities, your teen will be motivated to tackle the chore.
Other low-pressure activities include walking, volunteering, and creative outlets. In order to make low-pressure activities more interesting, let your teen take the lead. Let them decide what to do. Avoid high-stakes activities that look like insurmountable tasks in your teen’s eyes.
Support School Engagement
Work collaboratively with teachers, school counselors, and other supportive figures to help your teen overcome their challenges. Ask for flexible accommodations since depression can make it hard to attend school. For example, if your teen misses school, ask a teacher to send you the material covered in class. You can also ask a friend to drop off homework exercises to ensure your teen does not fall behind in class. Encouraging interactions can also help them overcome depression.
When to Seek Professional Help for Teen Depression
If you notice your teen exhibiting severe symptoms of depression, it is essential to seek professional help. Moderate to severe cases of depression may make your teen exhibit symptoms like:
Suicidal thoughts and ideation
Extreme social withdrawal
Self-harm behaviors
Refusal to engage in activities or talk to others
A sudden obsession with death
Alcohol and substance abuse
If these symptoms last longer than two weeks, you need to seek professional help immediately.
Therapy and Treatment Options
Depression is treated using various methods. These include the following:
Cognitive behavioral therapy: CBT is a psychotherapy approach designed to help teens overcome negative feelings and behaviors. It is based on the idea that thoughts lead to emotions, and emotions lead to behavior. Since they are all connected, learning to change one aspect can improve other factors. CBT focuses on helping teens identify and modify negative thought patterns. Modifying these thought patterns can improve your teen’s emotions and behaviors.
Dialectical behavior therapy:DBT focuses on equipping teenagers with skills that will help them overcome depression. It teaches them skills likemindfulness, which is effective in managing negative emotions.
Acceptance and commitment therapy: ACT teaches teens to accept their emotions as they work on aligning their actions with their personal beliefs. It allows teens to be open to experiencing difficult emotions and commit to changing their behavior to align with their goals.
Pharmacological interventions: Depression can be treated using a combination of psychotherapy and medications. Your teen may be treated using antidepressants like SSRIs, selective serotonin-norepinephrine inhibitors (SNRIs), and noradrenaline and specific serotonergic antidepressants (NaSSAs). These drugs are very effective in treating major depression.
Teen Depression Treatment at Nexus Teen Academy
Depression is a common but treatable mental health condition. At Nexus Teen Academy, we specialize in treating teenagers struggling with various mental health conditions. We offer high-quality treatment designed to help teens overcome their mental health struggles. We equip them with skills that can help them get out of bed. Our treatment approaches teach them to restructure their negative thought patterns, practice mindfulness, and use other coping strategies. These strategies can help them overcome depressive symptoms.
At Nexus Teen Academy, we offer comprehensive treatment for teens with depression. We utilize evidence-based and holistic approaches to ensure your teen is fully treated. We also provide medication management services for teens requiring pharmacological interventions. If you would like to enroll your teen in one of our specialized programs,contact ustoday. We will be happy to treat your teen’s depression.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can depression in teens go away on its own?
Depression is unlikely to go away on its own. It requires professional help. While your teen’s symptoms may improve on their own, it is unlikely that they will fully recover. If left untreated, depression can have devastating effects on your teen’s life.
Should I take my teen to a doctor or a therapist first?
Generally, you should take your teen to their primary care provider before going to a therapist. This helps to rule out any physical health conditions that may be causing your teen's depressed mood.
Executive Director Hannah Carr, LPC and nexus_admin
How Can I Help My Teenager with Depression?
FACT CHECKED
The Nexus Teen Academy editorial and clinical team is dedicated to providing informative and accurate content to help families who are struggling with adolescent behavioral health problems. The editorial team works directly with the clinical team to ensure information is accurate and up-to-date.
To do this, our team uses the following editorial guidelines:
Clinically reviewed by Executive Director Hannah Carr, LPC
Executive Director Hannah Carr, LPC
Hannah graduated from Arizona State University with her Bachelor’s in Psychology and Master’s in Counseling and is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Arizona. She began her work as a therapist 12 years ago in South Phoenix with an intensive outpatient program for teens and their families. She joined Nexus in the residential program as the clinical director, eventually being promoted to the executive director, creating and building the clinical program structure and a strong culture focused on redirecting the trajectory of young lives.
Published By Nexus Teen Academy
Nexus Teen Academy
The Nexus Teen Academy Editorial Staff is composed of writers, editors, and clinical reviewers with many years of experience writing about mental health and behavioral health treatment. Our team utilizes peer-reviewed, clinical studies from sources like SAMHSA to ensure we provide the most accurate and current information.
Published On November 1, 2025
Table of Contents
Teen depression is more common than you realize. According to a study by Mental Health America, it is estimated that in 2024, over 20% of teens experienced a major depressive episode. 15% of teenagers were severely impaired and could not attend school, work, or function at home. The numbers in Arizona are higher than the national average. It is estimated that 23% of teenagers in Arizona experienced a major depressive episode in the past year. As a parent or guardian, you should help your teen if they are struggling with depression.
This article will guide parents, caregivers, and teachers on what steps they can take to help depressed teenagers and provide practical strategies for overcoming depression. If you would like immediate assistance for helping your teenager with depression, contact Nexus Teen Academy today. Our team will happily guide you through our mental health treatment programs.
Understanding Depression in Teenagers
Teenagers have a tough time as they enter adolescence. Hormonal fluctuations, societal pressures, and psychological changes can leave them feeling moody and irritable. Parents of depressed teens often think it is a phase or typical teenage mood swings. Depression is more than that. It is a complex, serious, but treatable mental health condition that causes teenagers to experience overwhelming sadness. It has a debilitating effect on their lives and makes it hard for them to go about their daily lives.
If you notice that your teen is persistently sad, they may have depression.
What Teen Depression Looks Like
Depression looks different in everyone. Some teenagers may hide their sadness better than others. However, the following are common symptoms of depression in teens:
If your teen exhibits a combination of these symptoms, it may be a sign that they are depressed.
How to Support Your Teen with Depression
Teens recovering from depression require a lot of emotional support. As a parent or guardian, you are responsible for ensuring your teen is doing okay. Here are a few tips:
Be Present and Validate Their Feelings
Validating your teen’s emotions is one of the most important things you can do to support them. Many parents make the mistake of dismissing their teen’s condition. Some think that depression is not real or that it is a sign of weakness. Do not make the same mistake. Validate your teen’s emotions and be compassionate. Tell them you understand how it feels to be sad. Use your own experiences to show that you understand. Doing this will help them feel less lonely and improve their outlook on life.
Similarly, you should always be present for your teen. Do not avoid them or pass the responsibility of caring for them to someone else. Depressed teenagers need parental support more than anything. Be present for them and listen to them intently. Avoid interrupting them or offering instant fixes. This will help strengthen your relationship and will motivate your teen to overcome depression.
Build Trust Through Consistent Compassion
Trust is the cornerstone of every successful relationship. Depression can strain interpersonal relationships and lead to a loss of trust. As a parent or guardian, you should work hard to rebuild trust. Give your teenager a safe space to express themselves without fear of judgment. Discussing depression can be hard for both of you. Although it is challenging, be receptive and open to talking about depression. Remain compassionate and avoid dismissive or minimizing language. Negative comments may ruin the trust you have worked so hard to build. It may also worsen your teen’s negative thoughts, making it hard to overcome depression.
Practical Ways to Help a Depressed Teen
Supporting your teen emotionally is essential. However, without practical strategies, your teen may lack the skills to overcome depression. The following are everyday support techniques that build stability and hope:
Gently Encourage Routine and Self-Care
Depression can make it hard for teens to eat, clean up after themselves, or get out of bed. As a parent or guardian, you should gently encourage your teen to develop a routine. Routine creates a stable and predictable environment, which is less overwhelming. An unpredictable environment can be overwhelming because it floods your teen’s senses.
An important part of a daily routine is setting time for various activities. Getting out of bed at a set time will provide structure and predictability. Encourage your teen to get out of bed and open the curtains and blinds. Natural light can help improve their mood. You should also set times for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Marking these activities gives your teen something to look forward to. This will motivate them to get out of bed, shower, and sleep on time. A consistent routine is essential for teens recovering from depression.
Use positive reinforcement techniques to encourage your teen to develop a routine. Praise their effort and give them lots of love. For example, if your teen struggles to get out of bed, give them their favorite snack to encourage them. When they sit up in bed, praise their effort. These small wins can help your teen overcome depression.
Promote Low-Pressure Activities and Interests
Daily activities can be overwhelming for a teen struggling with depression. As a result, you should promote low-pressure activities and interests. Instead of forcing them to attend their soccer practice, play with them in the backyard. Make difficult tasks taste easier. For example, handwashing dishes can be overwhelming. Split the chore into two and work with them to tackle it. Suggest that they rinse the dishes while you wash them. When you break the tasks into smaller activities, your teen will be motivated to tackle the chore.
Other low-pressure activities include walking, volunteering, and creative outlets. In order to make low-pressure activities more interesting, let your teen take the lead. Let them decide what to do. Avoid high-stakes activities that look like insurmountable tasks in your teen’s eyes.
Support School Engagement
Work collaboratively with teachers, school counselors, and other supportive figures to help your teen overcome their challenges. Ask for flexible accommodations since depression can make it hard to attend school. For example, if your teen misses school, ask a teacher to send you the material covered in class. You can also ask a friend to drop off homework exercises to ensure your teen does not fall behind in class. Encouraging interactions can also help them overcome depression.
When to Seek Professional Help for Teen Depression
If you notice your teen exhibiting severe symptoms of depression, it is essential to seek professional help. Moderate to severe cases of depression may make your teen exhibit symptoms like:
If these symptoms last longer than two weeks, you need to seek professional help immediately.
Therapy and Treatment Options
Depression is treated using various methods. These include the following:
Teen Depression Treatment at Nexus Teen Academy
Depression is a common but treatable mental health condition. At Nexus Teen Academy, we specialize in treating teenagers struggling with various mental health conditions. We offer high-quality treatment designed to help teens overcome their mental health struggles. We equip them with skills that can help them get out of bed. Our treatment approaches teach them to restructure their negative thought patterns, practice mindfulness, and use other coping strategies. These strategies can help them overcome depressive symptoms.
At Nexus Teen Academy, we offer comprehensive treatment for teens with depression. We utilize evidence-based and holistic approaches to ensure your teen is fully treated. We also provide medication management services for teens requiring pharmacological interventions. If you would like to enroll your teen in one of our specialized programs, contact us today. We will be happy to treat your teen’s depression.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Depression is unlikely to go away on its own. It requires professional help. While your teen’s symptoms may improve on their own, it is unlikely that they will fully recover. If left untreated, depression can have devastating effects on your teen’s life.
Generally, you should take your teen to their primary care provider before going to a therapist. This helps to rule out any physical health conditions that may be causing your teen's depressed mood.