Did you know that one in seven teens aged 10-19 has a mental health disorder? Of these disorders, anxiety and depression continue to raise eyebrows. It is estimated that roughly 5 million adolescents aged 12-17 experienced a major depressive disorder between 2020-2021, accounting for 20.1% of the United State’s population. Such statistics make it necessary to explore the possible causes of teen depression.
Some of the common risk factors of teen depression include genetics, life events, academic stress, substance abuse, social issues, medical conditions, and co-occurring disorders. Arizona’s trusted teen mental health treatment center, Nexus Teen Academy is committed to helping teen boys and girls families to understand and navigate different mental health issues, including depression. Join us as one of our therapists discusses the common risk factors of teen depression.
What are the Risk Factors for Teen Depression?
Understanding the risk factors linked to depression helps you understand the complexity of teen depression and how overwhelming it might be for your teen. One of your first questions might be what causes depression. There is no single cause of teen depression. This mood disorder, signified by intense feelings of sadness and hopelessness, can stem from several factors.
These can be genetic, behavioral, environmental, or psychological. Here are certain characteristics, experiences, or situations that may increase a teenager’s risk of developing a depressive disorder.
Genetic and Biological Factors
There is a strong prevalence that genetics and biological factors create a predisposition for the development of depression. Teen depression may be linked to the following genetic and biological factors:
Inherited Traits
Depression can be genetic. Teens with blood relatives struggling with depression are more likely to suffer from the condition compared to other teenagers. These include parents and grandparents.
Brain Chemistry
A teenager’s brain chemistry may predispose them to depression. The brain heavily depends on neurotransmitters to send signals to other body parts. Abnormal or impaired neurotransmitter levels may interfere with such functions, leading to mental health issues such as depression.
Hormonal Fluctuations/ Imbalance
Changes in a teenager’s hormonal balance may trigger or worsen depressive disorders. For example, a drop in serotonin often leads to increased irritability and sadness. Other hormones capable of triggering teen mood swings, especially in girls, include estrogen and progesterone.
Personality
A teenager’s personality may also put them at risk of developing a depressive disorder. For example, excessively self-critical teens may feel sad, hopeless, and worthless frequently, leading to mood issues. Additionally, teen depression may also result from learned patterns of negative thinking, such as helplessness.
Behavioral and Psychological Factors
Another element that can predispose your teen to depression is behavioral and psychological factors. The following behavioral and psychological factors may lead to teen depression:
Trauma
Traumatic events such as sexual abuse, loss of a loved one, or childhood neglect can have significant long-lasting effects on teenager’s mental health. They may increase the risk of depression by causing brain alterations or chronic stress.
Academic Stress
Academic stress usually results from unrealistic expectations, competing deadlines, academic pressure, and school-related factors such as bullying. Coupled with the physical and emotional changes of adolescence, such factors can be difficult to cope with. This may leave teens vulnerable to depression.
Social Issues
Certain social issues can lead to or worsen teen depression by creating an unstable environment that undermines the teenager’s sense of safety, belonging, and worth. Some may also lead to feelings of hopelessness, alienation, and marginalization, capable of triggering depression. Common social issues linked to teen depression include:
Discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status.
Poverty and violence.
Unequal access to resources and opportunities.
Substance Abuse
Substance abuse can trigger certain symptoms associated with teen depression, such as intense feelings of loneliness, hopelessness, and sadness. Additionally, drugs such as alcohol, marijuana, and cocaine can trigger certain brain changes, making adolescents likely to develop mental health disorders.
Other Psychological Triggers
Other psychological triggers of teen depression include low self-esteem, excessive stress, and chronic anxiety.
Environmental Influences
To help you understand how a teenager’s environment can increase their risks of developing depressive disorder, let’s discuss the role of the home environment, school atmosphere, and external stressors in teen depression.
Role of Home and School Environment
Certain home-related factors can trigger feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, insecurity, and loneliness, leaving teenagers depressed. These include parental substance abuse, neglect, family conflict, and abuse.
Teens who face intense academic pressures, social isolation, bullying, and inadequate support at school may be left feeling hopeless and inadequate. Such feelings may lead to or fuel teen depression.
Unrealistic expectations both at home and at school may lead to overwhelming stress and anxiety. Without the right coping mechanisms, teens may end up feeling depressed.
Impact of Bullying, Social Media Pressure, and Other External Stressors
Regardless of the means used, bullying can interfere with a teenager’s sense of safety and belonging. Bullied teens may end up feeling isolated, ashamed, and worthless, leading to depressive disorders.
Teenagers may feel pressured to conform to the unrealistic standards portrayed on social media. This may lead to feelings of loneliness and inadequacy, fueling mental health issues. Additionally, they may face harassment or exclusion on social media platforms, which are ripe causes of depression.
Other external stressors that may trigger or worsen teen depression include societal expectations and relationship conflicts.
Medical Conditions
Teen depression may also result from certain medical conditions. For example, chronic conditions such as cancer, diabetes, and chronic pain have been said to increase a teenager’s vulnerability to depression. Additionally, medications used to treat such conditions may also have severe mood-altering effects, putting teens at risk of getting depressed. These include select acne medications and corticosteroids.
Other Mental Health Disorders
Other mental health disorders may also lead to or worsen teen depression. For example, teens with social and generalized anxiety disorders are more likely to develop depression. A study conducted in 2023 discovered signs of anxiety in 5.5% of teen participants, depression in 3.1%, and co-occurring signs of anxiety and depression in 2.3%.
Additionally, teens with attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) also face a higher risk of developing depression. A past study reported that up to 18% of 4-6-year-olds diagnosed with ADHD experienced major depression by the time they were 18.
Other mental health disorders that may lead to or worsen teen depression include bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder.
Other Factors
If the above factors were not enough, there are more elements that your teen may experience that can increase the possibility of them developing depression. The following factors have also been linked to teen depression:
Gender
Gender norms and expectations can lead to profound stress and discrimination, which can trigger teen depression.
Teenage girls who feel pressured to conform to unrealistic body or beauty standards may end up depressed. The same may also happen to those who experience gender-based harassment.
Teenage boys may refrain from seeking help or discussing their feelings openly due to traditional notions of masculinity. This may lead to feelings of shame and alienation, which are possible causes of depression.
Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
LGBTQ+ youths often face societal stigma, widespread lack of acceptance, and discrimination. Navigating such challenges may cause extreme stress, leading to depression.
Some teens may be pressured to hide their identity due to societal constructs and expectations. This may lead to feelings of isolation, shame, and worthlessness. Such feelings, combined with fear of rejection by family, peers, and the entire community, such teens may end up depressed.
Unfortunately, there are inadequate support networks for teens dealing with gender identity issues. This explains why they usually end up feeling more alone, further worsening their depressive symptoms.
Socioeconomic Status
Teens from financially challenged backgrounds are usually predisposed to chronic stress, feelings of hopelessness, substance abuse, and, ultimately, teen depression. These often result from issues such as:
Financial stress.
Limited access to resources and educational opportunities.
Adverse living conditions.
Strained family dynamics due to economic hardships.
Inability to access healthcare and proper nutrition.
It is important to note that it is usually a combination of factors that result in an experience of teen depression. This combination is individualized and can happen suddenly or over time, depending on the factors. Being aware of these factors can help you identify with your teen if there is an increase in experiences that could lead to depression.
Preventive Measures and Support
If these factors have combined and your teen is experiencing depression, there are measures that you can take to support them and help them build resilience and healthy coping strategies. Here is how you can help your teenager as they navigate the challenges associated with teen depression:
Set realistic expectations. This prevents you from putting too much pressure on them.
Be a good role model by demonstrating healthy coping skills and stress management techniques.
Above all, let your teenager know you are always there to listen and support them.
Openly Communicating with Your Teenager
Prioritizing open and honest communication with your teen as they navigate the challenges of depression can create a foundation of trust and safety. Additionally, working on creating a safe space for them to express their feelings, experiences, and concerns allows them to see that you are in their corner and helps them feel less isolated.
Build Their Self-Esteem
As we discussed, teens with low self-esteem have a higher risk of getting depressed. Also, teen depression can interfere with a teenager’s self-esteem by causing overwhelming feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness. As a parent, you can help your teen develop a healthy self-image through positive reinforcement and encouragement. Small but vital actions such as celebrating achievements, acknowledging positive actions, and praising effort are all ways that you can help boost your teen’s self-esteem.
Teach Them Healthy Coping Mechanisms
Stress is a difficult experience to manage for anyone. Stress management techniques are not innate; they need to be learned. You and your teen can learn how to manage stress together, and with your guidance, they can develop healthy coping strategies. We highly recommend engaging in relaxation exercises and mindfulness practices. Participating in hobbies or enjoyable activities can also be helpful.
Help Them Build a Strong Support System
You could encourage and help your teenager build strong friendships and healthy relationships for emotional support and connection. You can also encourage them to join and participate in positive peer-led support groups.
Promote Healthy Habits
Engaging in healthy habits helps avoid stressors or triggers that may lead to or worsen existing mental health conditions. Encourage your depressed teenager to adopt healthy habits, rest well, eat nutritious foods, and exercise. This can be a family activity, where each member encourages the other and at the same time strengthens their bonds.
Set Boundaries and Monitor Their Activities
Consistent and clear boundaries and expectations are helpful and provide a sense of security and certainty for the family. These boundaries can include screen time allowances, household chores, social media engagement, and other behavioral expectations you have as a parent. It is often helpful to allow your teen a chance to build these boundaries with you, offering them a sense of ownership and autonomy.
Help Them Seek Professional Help
Besides the above strategies, you should contact a professional therapist or counselor if you notice signs of depression in your teenager. Early intervention for teen depression has the following benefits:
It can prevent the teenager’s depression from worsening.
It can prevent the development of co-occurring disorders or other severe issues.
It can lead to reduced engagement in risky behaviors.
It can improve the teen’s physical health.
It can lower the risks of suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
It can lead to improved quality of life.
It helps promote positive long-term outcomes.
Teens also learn effective coping strategies during early intervention, which can help them face future challenges resiliently.
Conclusion
Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders in teenagers. It can be triggered or worsened by several factors, including genetics, brain chemistry, medical conditions, stress, and substance abuse. It can also result from a teenager’s environment or other mental health disorders. To help your teen navigate the challenges of depression, consider open communication, effective stress management, healthy habits, setting boundaries, and seeking professional help.
At Nexus Teen Academy, we recognize how challenging teen depression management can be. Therefore, we offer a range of interventions, resources, and treatments for teens struggling with this disorder and their families.Contact us for tailored treatment and support if your teenager is struggling with depressive symptoms.
Social media can have both positive and negative impacts on a teenager’s mental health. Positive impacts include improved self-expression, connection, and support. On the other, cyberbullying, over-exposure to unrealistic standards, and social comparison can harm teen mental health by perpetuating feelings of inadequacy, anxiety, low self-esteem, and depression. Additionally, unregulated social media use can lead to inadequate sleep or changes in sleep routines. This may trigger or worsen teen anxiety and depression.
You should seek professional help for teen depression if you notice the following:
Impaired cognitive and social functioning.
Significant behavioral, sleep, and appetite changes.
Persistent expressions of hopelessness, worthlessness, and suicidal thoughts.
Decline in academic performance or school engagement.
Substance abuse or self-harming behaviors.
You should also seek the help of a counselor or therapist if you are constantly worried about your teenager’s safety and well-being. Remember to do that promptly, as early intervention improves treatment outcomes.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – We administer CBT to help teens identify and challenge negative thoughts and behavioral patterns associated with the depressive disorder.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) – Our DBT program for teen depression in Arizona combines unique CBT and mindfulness techniques. It helps teens manage their emotions, deal with challenges, and develop effective coping skills.
Group Therapy – Our group therapy program allows teens to connect with others facing similar challenges. It acts as an excellent source of support for depressed teenagers.
Alternative Therapies – We also administer alternative therapies as part of our complementary treatment programs. These include meditation, exercise, nutrition therapy, yoga, and mindfulness practices.
Note that all our therapy programs are tailored to the teenager’s needs and conditions.
At Nexus Teen Academy, we offer family therapy and psychoeducation sessions to allow family members to participate in teen therapy. We also engage families in treatment planning, therapy selection, teen monitoring, and treatment adjustments. You can rest knowing we will always guarantee your involvement in your teen’s treatment.
Risk Factors for Teen Depression in Arizona
Published On May 2, 2024
Table of Contents
Did you know that one in seven teens aged 10-19 has a mental health disorder? Of these disorders, anxiety and depression continue to raise eyebrows. It is estimated that roughly 5 million adolescents aged 12-17 experienced a major depressive disorder between 2020-2021, accounting for 20.1% of the United State’s population. Such statistics make it necessary to explore the possible causes of teen depression.
Some of the common risk factors of teen depression include genetics, life events, academic stress, substance abuse, social issues, medical conditions, and co-occurring disorders. Arizona’s trusted teen mental health treatment center, Nexus Teen Academy is committed to helping teen boys and girls families to understand and navigate different mental health issues, including depression. Join us as one of our therapists discusses the common risk factors of teen depression.
What are the Risk Factors for Teen Depression?
Understanding the risk factors linked to depression helps you understand the complexity of teen depression and how overwhelming it might be for your teen. One of your first questions might be what causes depression. There is no single cause of teen depression. This mood disorder, signified by intense feelings of sadness and hopelessness, can stem from several factors.
These can be genetic, behavioral, environmental, or psychological. Here are certain characteristics, experiences, or situations that may increase a teenager’s risk of developing a depressive disorder.
Genetic and Biological Factors
There is a strong prevalence that genetics and biological factors create a predisposition for the development of depression. Teen depression may be linked to the following genetic and biological factors:
Inherited Traits
Depression can be genetic. Teens with blood relatives struggling with depression are more likely to suffer from the condition compared to other teenagers. These include parents and grandparents.
Brain Chemistry
A teenager’s brain chemistry may predispose them to depression. The brain heavily depends on neurotransmitters to send signals to other body parts. Abnormal or impaired neurotransmitter levels may interfere with such functions, leading to mental health issues such as depression.
Hormonal Fluctuations/ Imbalance
Changes in a teenager’s hormonal balance may trigger or worsen depressive disorders. For example, a drop in serotonin often leads to increased irritability and sadness. Other hormones capable of triggering teen mood swings, especially in girls, include estrogen and progesterone.
Personality
A teenager’s personality may also put them at risk of developing a depressive disorder. For example, excessively self-critical teens may feel sad, hopeless, and worthless frequently, leading to mood issues. Additionally, teen depression may also result from learned patterns of negative thinking, such as helplessness.
Behavioral and Psychological Factors
Another element that can predispose your teen to depression is behavioral and psychological factors. The following behavioral and psychological factors may lead to teen depression:
Trauma
Traumatic events such as sexual abuse, loss of a loved one, or childhood neglect can have significant long-lasting effects on teenager’s mental health. They may increase the risk of depression by causing brain alterations or chronic stress.
Academic Stress
Academic stress usually results from unrealistic expectations, competing deadlines, academic pressure, and school-related factors such as bullying. Coupled with the physical and emotional changes of adolescence, such factors can be difficult to cope with. This may leave teens vulnerable to depression.
Social Issues
Certain social issues can lead to or worsen teen depression by creating an unstable environment that undermines the teenager’s sense of safety, belonging, and worth. Some may also lead to feelings of hopelessness, alienation, and marginalization, capable of triggering depression. Common social issues linked to teen depression include:
Substance Abuse
Substance abuse can trigger certain symptoms associated with teen depression, such as intense feelings of loneliness, hopelessness, and sadness. Additionally, drugs such as alcohol, marijuana, and cocaine can trigger certain brain changes, making adolescents likely to develop mental health disorders.
Other Psychological Triggers
Other psychological triggers of teen depression include low self-esteem, excessive stress, and chronic anxiety.
Environmental Influences
To help you understand how a teenager’s environment can increase their risks of developing depressive disorder, let’s discuss the role of the home environment, school atmosphere, and external stressors in teen depression.
Role of Home and School Environment
Impact of Bullying, Social Media Pressure, and Other External Stressors
Other external stressors that may trigger or worsen teen depression include societal expectations and relationship conflicts.
Medical Conditions
Teen depression may also result from certain medical conditions. For example, chronic conditions such as cancer, diabetes, and chronic pain have been said to increase a teenager’s vulnerability to depression. Additionally, medications used to treat such conditions may also have severe mood-altering effects, putting teens at risk of getting depressed. These include select acne medications and corticosteroids.
Other Mental Health Disorders
Other mental health disorders may also lead to or worsen teen depression. For example, teens with social and generalized anxiety disorders are more likely to develop depression. A study conducted in 2023 discovered signs of anxiety in 5.5% of teen participants, depression in 3.1%, and co-occurring signs of anxiety and depression in 2.3%.
Additionally, teens with attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) also face a higher risk of developing depression. A past study reported that up to 18% of 4-6-year-olds diagnosed with ADHD experienced major depression by the time they were 18.
Other mental health disorders that may lead to or worsen teen depression include bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder.
Other Factors
If the above factors were not enough, there are more elements that your teen may experience that can increase the possibility of them developing depression. The following factors have also been linked to teen depression:
Gender
Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
Unfortunately, there are inadequate support networks for teens dealing with gender identity issues. This explains why they usually end up feeling more alone, further worsening their depressive symptoms.
Socioeconomic Status
Teens from financially challenged backgrounds are usually predisposed to chronic stress, feelings of hopelessness, substance abuse, and, ultimately, teen depression. These often result from issues such as:
It is important to note that it is usually a combination of factors that result in an experience of teen depression. This combination is individualized and can happen suddenly or over time, depending on the factors. Being aware of these factors can help you identify with your teen if there is an increase in experiences that could lead to depression.
Preventive Measures and Support
If these factors have combined and your teen is experiencing depression, there are measures that you can take to support them and help them build resilience and healthy coping strategies. Here is how you can help your teenager as they navigate the challenges associated with teen depression:
Creating a Supportive Home Environment
Dealing with depression can be overwhelming for teenagers. Therefore, building a supportive and positive home environment for depressed teens goes a long way in helping them feel safe and contained. Here are a few helpful strategies:
Above all, let your teenager know you are always there to listen and support them.
Openly Communicating with Your Teenager
Prioritizing open and honest communication with your teen as they navigate the challenges of depression can create a foundation of trust and safety. Additionally, working on creating a safe space for them to express their feelings, experiences, and concerns allows them to see that you are in their corner and helps them feel less isolated.
Build Their Self-Esteem
As we discussed, teens with low self-esteem have a higher risk of getting depressed. Also, teen depression can interfere with a teenager’s self-esteem by causing overwhelming feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness. As a parent, you can help your teen develop a healthy self-image through positive reinforcement and encouragement. Small but vital actions such as celebrating achievements, acknowledging positive actions, and praising effort are all ways that you can help boost your teen’s self-esteem.
Teach Them Healthy Coping Mechanisms
Stress is a difficult experience to manage for anyone. Stress management techniques are not innate; they need to be learned. You and your teen can learn how to manage stress together, and with your guidance, they can develop healthy coping strategies. We highly recommend engaging in relaxation exercises and mindfulness practices. Participating in hobbies or enjoyable activities can also be helpful.
Help Them Build a Strong Support System
You could encourage and help your teenager build strong friendships and healthy relationships for emotional support and connection. You can also encourage them to join and participate in positive peer-led support groups.
Promote Healthy Habits
Engaging in healthy habits helps avoid stressors or triggers that may lead to or worsen existing mental health conditions. Encourage your depressed teenager to adopt healthy habits, rest well, eat nutritious foods, and exercise. This can be a family activity, where each member encourages the other and at the same time strengthens their bonds.
Set Boundaries and Monitor Their Activities
Consistent and clear boundaries and expectations are helpful and provide a sense of security and certainty for the family. These boundaries can include screen time allowances, household chores, social media engagement, and other behavioral expectations you have as a parent. It is often helpful to allow your teen a chance to build these boundaries with you, offering them a sense of ownership and autonomy.
Help Them Seek Professional Help
Besides the above strategies, you should contact a professional therapist or counselor if you notice signs of depression in your teenager. Early intervention for teen depression has the following benefits:
Teens also learn effective coping strategies during early intervention, which can help them face future challenges resiliently.
Conclusion
Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders in teenagers. It can be triggered or worsened by several factors, including genetics, brain chemistry, medical conditions, stress, and substance abuse. It can also result from a teenager’s environment or other mental health disorders. To help your teen navigate the challenges of depression, consider open communication, effective stress management, healthy habits, setting boundaries, and seeking professional help.
At Nexus Teen Academy, we recognize how challenging teen depression management can be. Therefore, we offer a range of interventions, resources, and treatments for teens struggling with this disorder and their families. Contact us for tailored treatment and support if your teenager is struggling with depressive symptoms.
Frequently Asked Questions
The following are the early signs and symptoms of teenage depression:
Here is how you can reduce stress in your teenager’s life:
Social media can have both positive and negative impacts on a teenager’s mental health. Positive impacts include improved self-expression, connection, and support. On the other, cyberbullying, over-exposure to unrealistic standards, and social comparison can harm teen mental health by perpetuating feelings of inadequacy, anxiety, low self-esteem, and depression. Additionally, unregulated social media use can lead to inadequate sleep or changes in sleep routines. This may trigger or worsen teen anxiety and depression.
You should seek professional help for teen depression if you notice the following:
You should also seek the help of a counselor or therapist if you are constantly worried about your teenager’s safety and well-being. Remember to do that promptly, as early intervention improves treatment outcomes.
At Nexus Teen Academy, we administer the following therapies when treating teen depression:
Note that all our therapy programs are tailored to the teenager’s needs and conditions.
Here are a few strategies that can help you communicate effectively with a depressed teen:
Above all, remember to be patient with them. Do not hesitate to seek professional intervention if symptoms worsen or communication barriers persist.
Here are a few school-based programs that can help teens with mental health challenges:
At Nexus Teen Academy, we offer family therapy and psychoeducation sessions to allow family members to participate in teen therapy. We also engage families in treatment planning, therapy selection, teen monitoring, and treatment adjustments. You can rest knowing we will always guarantee your involvement in your teen’s treatment.