The simple answer to that is yes, you can prevent teenage depression.
However, it’s not going to be easy. At any given time, 1 out of 5 teens can experience teenage depression, but most people would think otherwise.
Teens usually have a reputation for being volatile, moody, and full of angst. However, that is not without good reason, though we experience many changes during our teens, from hormonal to physical ones.
Often, these changes can also affect their mental state, which is why many teenagers nowadays have mental issues, and sadly, one of them is depression.
While that is most unfortunate, as parents, we have a responsibility to take care of them and prevent teenage depression. This is when they need our guidance and help, so we should give it to them whenever they want it.
That said, here are some ways to prevent teenage depression. Let’s get started.
Promote Overall Health
Various factors can affect a teenager’s mental state; unfortunately, some can increase their susceptibility to depression.
With that in mind, we need to closely monitor who they are eating, sleeping, exercising, and socializing without impeding their freedom. While you can’t control teenagers’ emotions, you can at least help them model a healthy lifestyle.
Of course, this would mean following a healthy diet, moving their body through exercise, and getting enough sleep.
You can encourage these traits through example, which means doing them yourself. Also, if your teenager is almost 24/7 on their gadgets, limiting their exposure to them might be best.
Communicate Constantly
A lot of parents usually misinterpret this one. When we talk constantly, we don’t say it all the time to the point that it annoys them.
Even adults find it annoying, so what more of a teenager who is sometimes emotionally volatile?
That said, when we communicate constantly, we mean to talk to them in every important aspect of their lives, like praising them for a good job at school, talking to them about their hobbies and dislikes, offering positive feedback, etc.
This is a good way to establish rapport with your teenager, making them think you care and feel loved simultaneously.
Also, one huge mistake many parents make when their teenager lashes out is responding to them with the same aggression.
This only creates a huge rift between you and your teenager, so as much as possible, respond with calm assurances, and if they need space, give it to them.
Provide Safety and Security
For teenagers, most of the time, their sanctuary is their room. If not, that’s a sign that you have failed to provide safety and security.
This must be because you’re constantly invading their spaces, not letting them safeguard their room, going inside their room without permission, etc.
An integral part of healthy development in teenagers comes from having a safe and secure home base.
And no, we’re not just talking about their room being secure. You also have to be accessible to your teenager by offering them help when they need and ask and, of course, giving them resources as much as possible.
You should also make them feel that you trust them and that they can trust you. As much as possible, do not be mad when it’s unnecessary.
This will only make them keep more secrets from you, which you don’t want to happen.
Encourage Positive Peer Relationships
Having friends and other relationships outside the family dynamic is important for teenagers.
It also teaches them how to interact with people and consider other people’s feelings. All teens look to the approval of their peers, and it’s a great way of learning how social interactions work.
You might feel that you can do nothing to help them in this matter, but there’s a lot you can do.
For example, you can tell them about the risks of establishing a connection with others, and there’s no limit to how many people you can be friends with.
Do not prevent them from making connections since that’s a huge factor in depression.
Many teenagers nowadays are more susceptible to teenage depression because they can’t create positive relationships with other people.
Provide a Healthy Support System
If you think your teenager is showing early signs of depression, it’s best to act immediately.
First and foremost, you can look for professional health professionals who can help you and your teenager deal with teenage depression.
Second, you can talk to your teenager about how they are feeling lately, and lastly, you need to find out its source.
It’s best to know that sometimes, depression doesn’t have a source, which is very common.
That said, you can talk to their doctor about how to deal with depression and what medications they can take to deal with it.
Luckily, there are a lot of medications that are the Latest from BuzzRx, which can help alleviate some of the symptoms of depression.
Final Words
Teenage depression is more common than you think. Some people mistakenly call it a phase or a call for attention, but if neglected long enough, it can develop severe mental health issues down the line or, worse, suicide.
To prevent that, you can follow the tips we discussed above, so even if you’re not sure that your teenager will ever experience depression in the future, you’re already taking steps to prevent it in the first place.
If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions please leave them down below. Thanks for reading!
