It can be hard to know how your teen is really doing. Learn some signs to look out for that could mean your teen is depressed.
Talking Points:
- Common signs of depression in teens are changes in normal behaviors such as eating or sleeping patterns. They avoid or no longer enjoying things they used to do and are they less involved with activities, friends, and family.
- There’s never harm in trying to find out more about your teen even though they may be reticent to share with you. You can point out specific changes you’ve noticed and ask about the reasons for those changes. Especially if your child has expressed behaviors or thoughts of self-harm, you should be proactive and take appropriate steps.
Discussion:
- Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- Have you noticed signs of depression in your teen? What are these signs and why do they stand out to you as worthy of note?
- Do you know the social networks or smartphone apps your teen uses? Name them. What steps must you take to be more involved in this sphere of their lives?
- Has your teen shown signs of self-harm either verbally or physically? Explain.
- If you feel your teen has demonstrated some changes that might point to depression or self-harm, what’s your action plan for sitting down to talk about it? Be specific.
- Other than right here at FLEXTALK.org, what are some resources in your area that would be helpful for you and your teen? If you don’t know any, what steps can you take to begin assembling a list of resources?
- Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
