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The symptoms of teen depression are often subtle at first.
Teen depression is a serious problem that can impact every aspect of a teen’s life. Left untreated, teen depression can lead to problems at home and school, drug abuse, self-loathing—even irreversible tragedy such as homicidal violence or suicide. Symptoms may take different forms or may be masked by other conditions. Kids may pretend to be sick, worry that a parent is going to die, perform poorly in school, refuse to go to school, or exhibit behavioral problems. Older people may be more willing to discuss the physical manifestations of depression, instead of their emotional difficulties. Symptoms of teen depression are different from the normal ups and downs of life that may cause your child to feel a little "blue" from time to time. Symptoms often go on for a long time and may change as depression gets worse. Often the first signs of depression are irritability, sadness, or boredom. Children or teens with depression may also have behavior problems or problems in school. It is normal for your growing child to be moody or somewhat irritable as he or she moves through adolescence. However, symptoms of prolonged sadness or irritability and a loss of pleasure in activities the child once enjoyed can indicate depression. Depression is not a normal part of growing up. Deciding whether your child's behavior is normal or a symptom of depression can be difficult. Your child may need to be evaluated for depression if he or she:
Most children will experience some unexplained sadness or boredom on occasion. Asking your child a few questions about how he or she is feeling overall may help identify mild or moderate depression, which is more difficult to recognize than symptoms of major depression. Some examples of questions to ask your child to help you decide if your child needs to see a health professional for possible depression might include:
While questions such as these will not diagnose depression, they can open the doors of communication with your child and help you decide whether your child needs to be further assessed by a health professional.
Young children commonly have different symptoms than older children or teens. Very young children may lack energy and become withdrawn, show little emotion or seem to feel hopeless, and have problems sleeping. Elementary school children may feel constantly tired, irritable, sad, or guilty and complain of pain such as headaches or stomach pain. They may lose interest in friends and activities that they once enjoyed. In some cases, children with severe depression may lose touch with reality. They may hallucinate (see or hear things that don't exist) or have delusions (false beliefs). Teens may sleep a lot or move or speak more slowly than usual. Teens with severe depression may also hallucinate or have delusions. Symptoms of depression are different than a temporary response to a loss, disappointment, or tragic event (bereavement or grief). However, a stressful or traumatic situation can sometimes lead to depression. 
At one time it was a common belief that depression is "all in the mind" and that a depressed person should be able to snap out of it. We now know that depression is an illness that requires treatment—not a character flaw or weakness. Childhood and teen years can be especially difficult for children with depression and their family members, especially if it is not treated. Untreated major depression can last for a year and sometimes longer. Prolonged or severe depression can lead to problems making and keeping friends, difficulty in school, substance abuse, suicidal behavior, and other problems that may carry into adulthood. As a concerned parent or teacher, there are many things you can do to help a depressed teen. Here are some links to different types of information if you believe you teen or child is suffering from depression:
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The symptoms of teen depression are often subtle at first. It can be hard to recognize that symptoms may be connected and that your child might have depression. The main symptoms used to diagnose depression in children of any age are long-term irritability, sadness, and a loss of pleasure in activities once enjoyed. Other symptoms include: