What We Treat
Depression
Virtual Teen Depression Treatment
Adolescence is a stage of profound change. During the teen years, young people experience tremendous physical, emotional, psychological, and social changes. Coupled with peer pressure and familial pressures to succeed, it isn’t uncommon for teenagers to get depressed and feel “down in the dumps.” While it is normal for teenagers to experience short bouts of depression, it becomes a significant problem when these feelings linger for weeks, months, or even longer.
If you have a son or daughter struggling with depression, it can have devastating impacts on them and your whole family. It is essential to know the signs of teen depression and find help in specialized teen treatment for depression. If you need to get your teenager help, call Thrive Treatment toll-free today and speak with one of our experienced and compassionate staff members.
Introduction to Depression in Teens
You may be shocked to learn that teen depression is more common than you may think. According to statistics from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH):
- An estimated 3.8 million adolescents aged 12 to 17 in the United States had at least one major depressive episode in the past year.
- An estimated 2.7 million adolescents in the same age bracket had one major depressive episode in the past year with severe impairment. This represents just over 11 percent of the U.S. population in this age group.
- Twenty percent of females aged 12-17 suffered a depressive episode in the past year, compared to 6.8 percent of males.
- The prevalence of major depressive episodes was highest among adolescents reporting two or more races (20.9%)
Unfortunately, those teens who suffer from depression are at a greater risk and vulnerability to commit suicide. According to information from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), the majority of teens and young adults who attempt suicide have a major mental illness such as depression. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for those in the 15-24 age group. The AACAP states younger children will attempt suicide associated with feelings of sadness, confusion, or anger. For those who are older teens and young adults, suicide attempts are the result of stress, pressure to succeed, and fear of loss.
There are two primary types of depression found in teens. Major depressive disorder is characterized by a combination of symptoms severe enough that it interferes with a teen’s daily functioning. This includes school, work, family, and activities they enjoy. The second type of depression commonly diagnosed in teenagers is dysthymic disorder, where the symptoms experienced are less severe but does impact their daily functioning. People with this depressive disorder can experience more the one major depressive episode in their lifetime.
Let Us Help Your Family
We Work with Most Insurance
When to Get Help for Your Teenager
Knowing if your teenager is suffering from depression can be difficult. This is due to the fact that the symptoms of depression can be simply seen as a regular part of growing up. If your teen displays behavioral changes that interfere with their daily life for prolonged periods, they could be displaying signs of depression. The following are the signs of depression in your teenager:
If your teen exhibits long periods of irritability or anger, they could be dealing with depression. Along with these moods, your child may also have frequent bouts of crying.
Another sign of depression in your teen is declining performance at school. They may exhibit low energy, poor attendance, a sharp drop in grades, and frustration with school in general.
Teens and young adults with depression also lose interest in activities they once loved. They may qu
Tto cope with their feelings of depression, your teen may turn to drugs and alcohol to cope.
If your teen starts feeling intense shame, guilt, or “ugly,” they may be dealing with depression.
Depressed teenagers may spend a lot of their day sleeping in bed or may experience insomnia. Also, your teenager may eat more or less than usual.
Teens who are depressed may engage in risky behavior such as reckless driving and having unprotected sex.
What are the Causes of Depression in
Teenagers?
There are several causes that can lead to the development of depression in young people. These include the following:
- A family history of depression, mood, or anxiety disorders
- A history of trauma including sexual abuse, physical abuse, involvement in a major accident, or having a major illness
- An environment that includes poverty, bullying, peer pressure, divorce, and learning disabilities
- Substance abuse
- Hormonal changes due to the onset of puberty
- Negative thought patterns and overall negative thinking
- Undiagnosed anxiety disorders in childhood
What to Expect During Online Treatment for Teens with Depression
When your child enters a treatment center for depressed teens, the programs and services provided are evidence-based and provided by experienced professionals. It is extremely important that treatment staff has vast experience in dealing with the unique needs of adolescents. Additionally, the teen depression treatment center must have proven programs and services that are evidence-based, thoroughly tested, and are proven to work.
Experienced psychologists, psychiatrists, and other experienced treatment personnel will conduct a thorough evaluation when your teen enters treatment. They will assess your teen’s current mental and physical health and will pinpoint any underlying issues that may negatively impact treatment. Staff will also meet with you to discuss any past family history of mental illness and underlying environmental issues such as trauma, abuse, and substance abuse. Treatment staff will create an individualized treatment plan tailored to meet your teen’s unique needs from this assessment.
Therapy
Therapy is the cornerstone of teen depression treatment. Therapy helps teens understand why they are depressed and gives them the tools needed to cope with stressful situations in a healthy manner. Common therapies used in teen depression treatment centers include the following:
- Cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT)
- Psychotherapy
- Interpersonal therapy
- Family therapy
Medications
In addition to therapy, medications can also be used in treatment centers for depressed teens. Medications such as Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft are commonly used in depression treatment programs for teens. However, the use of medications should be reserved for those teens with severe cases of depression or who are at risk of suicide. Since these medications were created for adults, they need to be administered with great care and under close supervision.
Coping Skills Training
Another essential facet of teen depression treatment programs is the learning and building of healthy coping skills. These skills are essential to teens so they can adequately cope with the stresses of adolescent life. Among the coping skills learned in treatment are interpersonal communication skills, building a solid support system, eating a healthy and balanced diet, joining a support group, and exercising.
Thrive’s Treatment Center for Depressed Teens
If your child is struggling with depression, you may feel overwhelmed and helpless. You may be currently searching for teen treatment for depression in California, but you may be unsure of what to look for where to turn with questions and concerns. Fortunately, the help and support you need is just a phone call away.
Thrive Treatment is an outpatient rehab facility in Los Angeles that provides innovative, evidence-based treatment programs proven to help your teen overcome depression and other mental illnesses. With decades of collective experience in the field of teen mental health, Thrive Treatment help teens and other families get the tools and support needed to empower and transform the lives of young people struggling with mental illness.
From therapy, psychiatric services, and medication management to support group meetings, life skills training, and job and education resources, the compassionate team at Thrive Treatment will empower teens to positively transform their lives. Call us toll-free today and find out more.
Treatment Services at Our Teen Center
- Individual Therapy
- Medication Management
- EMDR & Trauma Therapy
- DBT & Emotion Regulation
- Mindfulness & Meditation
- Psychiatric Services
- Psychoeducational Groups
- Life-Skills Training
- Group Therapy
- Experiential Therapies
- Relational Education & Therapy
- Self-Empowerment
- Codependency & Boundaries
- Local Mutual Support Group Meetings
- Resume Building
- Job Search Assistance
- Academic Assistance
- Device Dependency
- Anger Management
Thrive Teen offers treatment for a variety of mental health disorders
