Top-Rated Treatment for Teen Depression
Teen depression is more common than you might think. The life of a teenager can be hard. First, teens are experiencing physical changes and increasing social pressures, coupled with the collective trauma of current events. When you add in the quest for an identity, kids have a lot on their plate, which is why so many teens suffer from depression.
Are you worried that your child might be experiencing symptoms of teen depression? Newport Academy can help. Our team of clinicians and admissions experts specialize in assisting families to identify mental health issues and get teens the personalized care they need to heal from depression.
Deciding to enter treatment can be a hard decision—but you’re not alone. We’re here to support your teen and your family to take that first, all-important step on the healing journey.
Statistics on Teen Depression
Depression is a national problem, and is one of the most common teen mental health disorders. These national statistics on teen depression underline the urgency of our current mental health crisis.
- 20% of American youth will experience some form of depression
- 3 million adolescents aged 12 to 17—12.5% of the US population in this age range—have had at least one major depressive episode
- Each year, more than 2 million adolescents have a major depressive episode with severe impairment
- Research shows teens are more susceptible to depression than adults
- At least one-third of depressed teens develop a substance use disorder
These are frightening statistics, but there are solutions available. Your son, daughter, and your family are not alone. You can access the support your child needs now, while they are still developing, so they can lead successful lives in adulthood.
Signs & Symptoms of Teen Depression
Even the most responsible and caring parents often fail to recognize the symptoms of teenage depression. It’s easy to mistake the signs as “a teen just being a teen.” Many teens go through gloomy periods, seem irritable all the time, or complain about being tired and sad. Yet, these common issues may be the beginnings of a more serious depressive episode.
What are the Most Common Signs of Teenage Depression?
There is a significant difference between teen angst and moodiness versus major depression. By knowing the signs, you can make the decisions that will help your teen move toward long-term, sustainable healing. Here are the 10 most common teen depression symptoms:
- Avoidance of social situations and a loss of interest in favored activities
- Exhaustion, constant fatigue, and a generalized lack of energy
- Sense of despair, sadness, and hopelessness, sometimes escalating into suicidal thoughts
- Lack of motivation (resulting in feelings of either guilt and/or failure)
- Unexplained aches and pains, headaches, stomach problems
- Hard time concentrating (particularly for teens who used to be focused)
- Feeling worthless, irritable, frustrated, or having an extreme case of low self-esteem
- Disturbed sleep patterns (taking naps during the day, insomnia at night)
- Changes in appetite and weight (including not eating on a regular basis or binge eating)
- Abusing alcohol or drugs to cope with the pain as a form of self-medication.
“Newport Academy was able to give my daughter the tools to dig deep and look at the things she needed to look at. It was a turning point, and there’s no question we made the right decision.”
—Denise, parent of a Newport Academy alumna
What are the Causes of Teen Depression?
Teen depression symptoms can arise from a number of different causes. Untreated trauma is one of the most frequent underlying issues that manifest as signs of teen depression. Traumatic events in childhood, such as physical or emotional abuse or loss of a parent, can cause changes in the brain, nervous system, and psyche that make an individual more susceptible to depression. Researchers have also found that depression is more common in people whose blood relatives—such as a parent or grandparent—also have the condition. Changes in the body’s balance of hormones and brain chemicals can also cause depression in adolescents.
Short-Term Effects of Teen Depression
Depression often manifests first in a lack of interest and enjoyment in everyday activities. Teens may express sadness and hopelessness, or they may be angry or irritable. Depressed teens sometimes stop paying attention to self-care and grooming. Parents might also notice physical signs of teen depression, such as sleeping too much or too little, or changes in weight and eating habits.
Long-Term Effects of Teen Depression
Adolescents who don’t receive teen depression treatment can experience long-term emotional, behavioral, and health problems that may impact all facets of their life. The long-term effects of depression can include substance abuse disorder, eating disorders, problems in school, ongoing family conflict, and suicide attempts. That’s why the most important way to help a teen with depression is by ensuring they receive the highest-quality treatment.
Common Types of Teen Depression
Occasional sadness or a sense of feeling down is normal for anyone every now and then. Yet, emotions of this nature that last more than a few days could be a sign of teen depression. Here are some of the different types of depression.
- Major depression can rise in bouts that can last for at least two weeks. It deeply affects the quality of life and health of the individual, reducing everyday functioning.
- Melancholic depression is a subtype of major depression. It leads to extreme irritability and excessive worrying. Some symptoms include waking very early in a negative state of mind or an inability to get back to sleep.
- Seasonal depression is most often triggered in winter due to lack of sunlight. The end of summer when school is about to begin can trigger it as well. Some experience depressive symptoms at the same time each year, almost like clockwork.
- Atypical depression has several specific symptoms. These symptoms include increased appetite/weight gain, excessive sleep, and marked fatigue. They also can include emotional overreactions, and an extreme sensitivity to rejection.
- Psychotic depression includes extreme episodes in which individuals lose contact with external reality.
- Bipolar disorder encompasses a serious form of depression. Sufferers experience extreme highs and lows. This condition is also a long-term effect of depression in 15% of teenagers.
Helping Teens Find Treatment for Depression
Teen depression symptoms don’t usually get better on their own—and they may get worse and lead to other serious and life-threatening problems if left untreated. If you think your teen might be depressed, talk to a healthcare professional, such as your doctor, an urgent care provider, or a psychiatrist. Or reach out to our admissions experts, who can help you identify the issue and research treatment approaches.
Crucial Components of Depression Treatment
If you’re considering depression treatment for your teen, it’s essential to understand the elements that contribute to effective care. The highest-quality, most successful teen depression treatment approaches include the following components:
- Involving the entire family in the healing process
- Treatment plans tailored to the specific needs of each teen and family
- An integrated approach in which medical and behavioral experts work together to support teens’ health and well-being
- Integrative care that blends clinical and experiential modalities
- Academic and life skills programing.
Teen Depression Treatment at Newport Academy
At Newport Academy, we see each teen as a unique individual with specific strengths, needs, and circumstances that inform their tailored treatment plan—with family involved each step of the way. Our integrated model of care is based in compassion and unconditional love, and informed by data and a wealth of clinical expertise.
Adolescents and families who come to Newport Academy for teen depression treatment will experience:
- Evidence-based clinical modalities such as CBT, DBT, EMDR, and Attachment-Based Family Therapy, designed to restore harmony and trust between teens and parents
- A wide variety of experiential modalities, including Adventure Therapy, yoga and meditation, Equine-Assisted Therapy, music and art therapy, Martial Arts Group, and horticulture and culinary therapy
- A whole-person philosophy of care that addresses a teen’s psychological, physical, social, and spiritual needs
- Parent support groups and Family Day events, as well as ongoing updates from your teen’s treatment team
- A robust academic component that enhances executive functioning, motivation, and organizational skills while drawing out teens’ strengths and passions—and ensuring that they continue to progress in their education while getting the care they need.
Moreover, Newport Academy is one of the few teen treatment programs that continually tracks the success of its approach using third party–validated research. We utilize our industry-leading outcomes to inform our treatment approach, so we can continually evolve our programs to meet the changing needs of teens and families during these challenging times.
Our Accreditations
Newport holds the Gold Seal of Approval® from The Joint Commission, the nation’s oldest and largest healthcare accrediting body, and is affiliated with a wide range of national organizations and certification bodies.
Insurances We Work With
At Newport Academy, we know that treatment financing can make all the difference in receiving quality care. To support families in their efforts to access the best teen treatment, Newport Academy accepts a wide range of insurance plans and provides financing options. We have the ability to work with all insurance companies, including Aetna, Anthem, BlueCross BlueShield, Beacon Health Options, First Choice Health, Humana, and many more.
Smiling Depression
Smiling depression is what’s known as an oxymoron—two words that don’t seem to make sense together. Unfortunately, smiling depression is real. It’s a form of depression in which a person appears to be happy and even thriving on the outside, while suffering on the inside.
Is it Teenage Angst or Depression?
Given the ups and downs of teenage emotions, it can be hard for a parent to know whether a teen’s difficult phase is due to teenage angst or depression. In fact, 40 percent of parents have a hard time distinguishing between mood swings and teen depression.
How to Talk to Boys About Teen Mental Health
Getting information out of a teen boy can be difficult, if not impossible. Here are five ways for parents and other caregivers and mentors to push through those barriers and learn how to talk to boys about their mental health.
Contact Us to Learn More
Newport Academy specializes in equipping teens with the skills and self-knowledge to address the maladaptive behaviors, underlying causes, and negative consequences associated with teen depression. We’re here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to help teens and families find the path to recovery and a thriving future. Contact us today to learn more about our approach to teen depression treatment.