Teen & Child Depression
Teen and Child Depression
Depression is more than just occasional sadness or moodiness—it’s a serious mental health condition that can deeply affect the way a child or teen thinks, feels, and functions in daily life.
For young people, depression may look different than it does in adults, and it often goes unnoticed or mistaken for “normal growing pains.” Left untreated, depression can interfere with healthy development, relationships, and academic success.
Children and adolescents with depression may experience
Persistent sadness or irritability
Loss of interest in favorite activities
Changes in appetite or sleep patterns
Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
Fatigue or low energy
Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt
Physical complaints such as headaches or stomachaches without a clear cause
Withdrawal from friends and family
Thoughts of death or suicide
Child & Teen Anxiety Treatment
Anxiety is a common and natural feeling that everyone experiences from time to time. However, for some children and adolescents, anxiety can become overwhelming and interfere with daily life. Anxiety disorders in young people involve intense, excessive, and persistent worry or fear about everyday situations.
Common Signs of Anxiety in Children and Teens
Frequent worries about school, social situations, or family
Avoidance of activities or places due to fear
Physical symptoms such as headaches, stomachaches, or rapid heartbeat
Difficulty concentrating or sleeping
Irritability or restlessness
Types of Anxiety Disorders in Youth
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD):
Constant, excessive worry about a variety of topics.
Social Anxiety Disorder:
Intense fear of social interactions or being judged by others.
Separation Anxiety Disorder:
Excessive fear of being away from caregivers or home.
Panic Disorder:
Sudden, repeated panic attacks involving intense fear and physical symptoms.
Child & Teen Psychosis
Child and Teen Psychosis
Psychosis is a mental health condition that changes the way a young person understands and experiences the world. It may cause them to see, hear, or believe things that aren’t real (hallucinations or delusions), making it difficult to tell what is real from what isn’t. Signs in children and teens can include unusual thoughts, confusion, withdrawal from friends or family, or a sudden drop in school performance.
With early evaluation, effective treatment, and strong family support, many young people are able to recover and return to their everyday lives.
Suicidal Ideation in Children & Teens
Suicidal Ideation in Children & Teens
Suicidal ideation refers to thoughts of wanting to die or end one’s life. In children and adolescents, these thoughts can be frightening, confusing, and often stem from intense emotional pain caused by depression, trauma, bullying, family conflict, academic pressure, or sudden loss.
Warning signs may include
Expressing hopelessness or feeling like a burden
Talking, writing, or joking about death or suicide
Giving away belongings or saying goodbye
Withdrawing from friends, family, or favorite activities
Changes in sleep, appetite, or behavior
Child and Teen Behavior Problems
Behavioral Issues
Children and adolescents sometimes face challenges that affect their behavior, emotions, and interactions with others.
These behavior problems can range from mild difficulties to more serious issues that impact daily life, school performance, and relationships with family and peers.
Common Behavior Problems Include
Oppositional Defiant Behavior: Frequent temper tantrums, arguing with adults, and refusal to follow rules.
Attention Difficulties: Trouble focusing, staying organized, or sitting still, often seen in ADHD.
Aggression and Conduct Issues: Physical fights, bullying,lying, or rule-breaking.
Anxiety and Mood Disorders: Excessive worry, sadness, or mood swings that affect behavior.
Social Challenges: Difficulty making or keeping friends, withdrawal, or inappropriate social interactions.
Teen & Child Mood Disorders
Common Mood Disorders in Youth
Depression:
Persistent feelings of sadness, irritability, or hopelessness that interfere with daily life. Children may show changes in appetite, sleep patterns, energy levels, and interest in activities.
Bipolar Disorder:
Characterized by episodes of extreme mood changes, including periods of elevated or irritable mood (mania or hypomania) and episodes of depression. These mood swings can affect behavior, sleep, and decision-making.
Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD):
Marked by severe, recurrent temper outbursts that are disproportionate to the situation, along with a persistently irritable or angry mood.
Signs to Watch For
Persistent sadness, irritability, or mood swings
Withdrawal from friends, family, or activities once enjoyed
Changes in eating or sleeping habits
Difficulty concentrating or declining school performance
Frequent feelings of worthlessness or guilt
Thoughts of self-harm or suicide
OCD Treatment for Children & Teens
Is It OCD?
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition that affects children and adolescents just as it does adults.
It involves unwanted, persistent thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental rituals (compulsions) that the child feels driven to perform.
These obsessions and compulsions can cause significant distress and interfere with daily life, school, friendships, and family relationships.
Common OCD Symptoms in Young People
Obsessions:
Intrusive fears or worries, such as fear of germs or contamination, fear of harm coming to themselves or loved ones, excessive concern about order or symmetry, or disturbing taboo thoughts.
Compulsions:
Repetitive behaviors like excessive hand washing, checking things repeatedly, arranging objects in a specific way, counting, or silently repeating words or prayers to reduce anxiety.
Child & Teen Personality Disorders
What is a Personality Disorder?
Personality disorders in children and adolescents refer to enduring patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that significantly differ from what is expected for their age and culture.
These patterns are persistent, cause distress or problems in everyday life, and affect how young people relate to others and cope with challenges.
Unlike typical mood or behavioral issues, personality disorders involve deeply ingrained ways of thinking and behaving that begin early in life and significantly influence social, emotional, and academic functioning.
Common signs may include
Difficulty managing emotions and impulses
Trouble forming and maintaining healthy relationships
Consistent patterns of negative or extreme thinking
Challenges with self-identity or self-esteem
Behaviors that interfere with school, family, or social activities
Early recognition and support can help young people build healthier ways to think, feel, and interact, improving their overall well-being and future success.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can affect children and adolescents who have experienced or witnessed traumatic events such as abuse, accidents, natural disasters, or violence. young people may also struggle with the lasting impact of PTSD, which can interfere with their development, daily life, and emotional well-being.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
How PTSD Manifests in Young People
Re-experiencing the trauma: Children and teens may have upsetting memories, nightmares, or flashbacks related to the traumatic event.
Avoidance: They might avoid places, people, or activities that remind them of what happened.
Heightened arousal: This can include difficulty sleeping, irritability, trouble concentrating, or being easily startled.
Emotional changes: Feelings of sadness, guilt, shame, or fear are common, as well as withdrawal from family and friends.
Behavioral changes: Younger children may show regressive
behaviors (bedwetting, thumb sucking), while adolescents might engage in risky behaviors or substance use.
Teen & Child Trauma
What is Child & Teen Trauma?
Trauma in childhood and adolescence refers to experiences that overwhelm a young person’s ability to cope, leaving lasting emotional, psychological, or physical effects.
Trauma can stem from experiencing or witnessing
Abuse
Neglect
Loss
Accidents
Violence
Common signs of trauma in children and adolescents may include
Difficulty trusting others or forming relationships
Emotional outbursts, anxiety, or depression
Trouble concentrating or declining academic performance
Changes in sleep or eating patterns
Changes in sleep or eating patterns
Physical symptoms such as headaches or stomachaches without
medical cause
Grief & Loss in Children and Teens
Grief and Loss
A young person’s ability to understand and process grief or loss depends heavily on their age, stage of development, and the support they receive from caregivers and peers.
Younger children may not fully grasp the permanence of loss and might express their grief through play, behavioral changes, or regressive behaviors, such as clinginess or bedwetting. Adolescents, on the other hand, typically have a more developed understanding of loss but may struggle with overwhelming emotions, social withdrawal, irritability, or risk-taking behaviors as they attempt to cope.
School Conduct Issues with Children & Teens
School conduct issues refer to behaviors in children and adolescents that disrupt learning or social interactions at school
These behaviors can range from mild to severe and might include
Disruptiveness: Talking out of turn, refusing to follow instructions, or distracting classmates.
Aggression: Physical fights, bullying, or verbal threats toward peers or staff.
Defiance: Refusal to comply with school rules, arguing with teachers, or challenging authority.
Inattention and Hyperactivity: Difficulty staying focused, excessive movement, or impulsivity that affects learning.
Social Withdrawal or Isolation: Avoiding interactions with peers or showing signs of anxiety or depression.
