Depression in Young People
Introduction
Emotional Changes
- Tearfulness or frequent crying
- Feelings of worthlessness and guilt, sadness and/or hopelessness
- Losing interest and pleasure in activities that you once enjoyed
- Tiredness, lack of energy and motivation
- Feeling worried or tense
Behavioural Changes
- Decreased participation with peers and normally enjoyed activities
- Self harm or deteriorated interactions and activities
- Avoidance of family interactions and activities
- More withdrawn behaviour including clearly more time spent alone
Physical Changes
- Either trouble sleeping, or over-sleeping and staying in bed most of the day
- Lowered libido
- Restlessness and agitation
- Unexplained aches and pains
Treatments
- It's important that a thorough and thoughtful assessment be carried out before any treatment is prescribed
- Treatments for depression include physical and psychophysical treatments
- Depression can sometimes go away of its own accord but, left untreated, it may last for many months.