How can I help my child?

How can I help my child with depression?
Please remember that your child is feeling real pain. This pain can make your child feel lonely, hopeless, like they are in a black hole with no escape or like they are the worst, most despicable person in the world. 

This is their reality, even if you can’t see it that way. 

Here are a few suggestions: 
  • Do love them unconditionally
  • Don’t ask too many questions
  • Do listen to them 
  • Don’t overprotect them, let them make mistakes
  • Do help your teen stay physically active
  • Don’t discipline with shame as it leads to feelings of worthlessness 
  • Do encourage your teen to have social interactions
  • Don’t ever give up on your teen, even if they shut you out
  • Do use positive reinforcement  
  • Don’t lecture 
  • Do keep open lines of communication
  • Don’t criticize just because you don’t understand
  • Do educate yourself on depression
  • Don’t have guns with ammo readily accessible
  • Do lock up dangerous medications
  • Be involved in every aspect of treatment for your teen
  • Do create a Plan of Action, Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) or Safety Plan with your teen
Studies show that teens with depression are often likely to have other issues like anxiety, trouble in school, risky sexual behaviors, learning disabilities, being bullied, substance abuse, self medicating to feel better. This means that it is important to treat the whole child as there could be more than one issue to deal with.

Find more facts...

Depression statistics and information was found in the following:
National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH)
World Health Organization (WHO)
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI)
Suicide Awareness Voices of Education [online] National Mental Health Association,“Fact Sheet: Suicide”
depressionstats.com
teendepression.org