Despite the clarity of diagnostic criteria, identifying depression in teens isn’t always straightforward. At every age, depression can look different from person to person, with some people experiencing emotional symptoms and others having more physical ones.
An experienced LCSW shares some common—and some surprising—signs of depression in young people.
Across the country, thousands of students are carrying something heavier than the books in their backpacks. Study after study has confirmed what school psychologists, teachers, and caregivers see firsthand: A growing number of young people have depression that began or worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic.