Depression Counseling for Teens and Children
Depression is one of the most common mental health problems in adolescence. Contrary to what parents might expect, teens with depression usually don’t just seem sad or mopey—they often seem irritable and angry. Agitation and irritability are some of the most common symptoms of childhood depression. It is important to know that depression counseling for children and teens is effective. It works.
Left unaddressed, depression harms how children develop, perform at school, make friends, and interact with their families. Children and adolescents with depression may feel sad or hopeless. Oftentimes, kids and teens with depression lose interest in things they once enjoyed. They may have a poor self-image or think of themselves as incapable or failures. Depression is the leading cause of suicide among youth.
Suicide and Teen Depression
Severely depressed teens often think and talk about killing themselves. A terrifying amount of teenage suicide attempts are successful. Additionally, it is important for any talk of or attempt at suicide to be taken very seriously. Also, depressed teenagers are at a particularly high risk for actually completing suicide and, therefore, should be watched closely for any signs of suicidal thoughts or behaviors.
If your teen is doing any of these things, don’t wait. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK or take your teen to an emergency room to be evaluated.
Help for children and teens with depression.
Therapy for children and teens with depression is effective. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the most common, evidenced-based counseling approaches. Depression counseling for children and teens involves helping them challenge unhelpful beliefs and thoughts about themselves and the world that contribute to feeling worthless or inadequate.
You may be wondering how parents can help their depressed child. Parents are just as important as counseling in helping kids reduce depression symptoms.
Kalamazoo Child and Family Counseling proudly serves children, teens, and their families in Kalamazoo, Portage, Mattawan, and Southwest Michigan.
Call 269-615-7637 to get help for your child or teen with depression.
