The Silent Struggle: A guide for parents on supporting a teenager with depression
According to the WHO (World Health Organisation) depression is one of the top contributors of illness and disability amongst teenagers worldwide.
It’s a complex and multifaceted issue that can have profound effects on young minds, yet it is often misunderstood or overlooked.
Being the parent or guardian of a teenager suffering with depression can feel challenging as you struggle with knowing how to best support them.
Oftentimes you can be left feeling helpless and under equipped to help.
As a parent or guardian, your support is crucial in helping your teenager navigate this extremely challenging time.
Here are some tips to help guide you to give them the support they need:
Educate yourself
The first step in supporting a teenager with depression is to have a good understanding of what depression is.
For example, understanding the difference between mood swings (which tend to be common during adolescence) and actual depression can decrease the risk of the depression being overlooked.
The more you know about this disorder, the more equipped you are to support your teen.
Validate their feelings
Oftentimes, parents can be dismissive of their teenager’s feelings and emotions.
I understand that we are human and have our ‘off’ days and sometimes find ourselves being impatient or feeling as if our teenage son/daughter is being ‘dramatic' (trust me, as the mother of a teenager myself I completely understand this!) but it’s important to let them know that their feelings are valid and you acknowledge them, allowing them to feel seen and understood.
Learn how to self regulate
How can we possibly help our children to regulate if we aren’t in a regulated state ourselves?
Learn some techniques to help you stay calm and grounded, particularly before approaching difficult conversations with your teenage son or daughter.
Whether we’re conscious of it or not, our children pick up on our energy and if we’re in a relaxed state it’s likely they will feel safer in opening up.
Taking care of your own mental health and modelling healthy coping techniques demonstrates the importance of self-care to your teenager.
Encourage open communication
Create an environment where your teenager feels reassured that talking to you won’t result in criticism or judgement.
Know that this may take time and it’s important to let them know that whenever they are ready, you are here to listen.
Learn to go at their pace instead of yours - pushing them to talk before they feel ready will only cause them to withdraw even further.
Encourage healthy habits
Often depression causes the sufferer to withdraw from people and activities so it can be helpful to try and keep your teenager connected, whether it’s with supportive family members or friends.
Encouraging physical activity can also provide some relief as well as release those feel good hormones called endorphins, which could play a significant role in alleviating symptoms of depression.
Know when to seek professional help
Talking to a therapist can offer a space where your teen can unburden themselves from some of the thoughts and feelings they are struggling with.
A therapist can support by listening without judgement, allowing space to process and also offer alternative ways of seeing things.
I’ve seen several adolescent clients in my practice gain a sense of purpose and find relief from their symptoms of depression after working with me.
If you are the parent or guardian of a teenager experiencing depression or know someone experiencing depression, get in touch for further information on how I can support.
