There are several things you can do to help your teen cope with depression, anxiety, or any other mental illness. Here are some suggestions: Talk to them about their feelings. If they don’t want to talk about it, ask them what they would like you to do for them. You can also talk to your child’s doctor or another healthcare provider about how to best support them in dealing with their depression and other issues. Try to find a way to get them out of the house as much as possible. This will help them feel less isolated and more able to cope. Make sure they have a safe place to go to if they need help. They may need to stay with a friend or family member for a few days or a week, but it is important to make sure that they are safe and that you are there to take care of them when they do need you. Talk about what is anything with their current life. Ask them how they feel about the way things are going in the world. What do they think of their friends, family, and school? What are their plans for the future? How are they feeling about themselves? Are they happy? Do they miss their family and friends? Is something is bothering them? If there is something that seems needs to be done. Ask for help directly. Your child may not be ready for it right away. It may take some time for him or her to come to terms with the fact that he or she has a problem. Be patient with them and let them figure it out on their own. Do not give up on them just because they say they can’t do something. Sometimes they just need a little more time to figure things out. Help them find ways to manage their moods. For example, they may be feeling sad or depressed and need some help getting their emotions under control. Some people find that talking to a counselor or therapist can be helpful in this regard. There are many resources available for teens and young adults who are struggling with mood disorders, including the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP). The AACAP website has links to many of these resources, as well as a list of other organizations that can help teens. The National Institute of Mental Health has more information about mental illnesses and their treatment.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-TALK) is a free, 24-hour, toll-free telephone service that provides crisis intervention, information, and referrals to local crisis centers, suicide prevention resources, and resources for family members and loved ones of people who have died by suicide. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for people ages 15 to 44.