One in three teenagers have felt so depressed that they needed help, a Daybreak survey has revealed. For help and advice contact Young Minds.

One in three teenagers have felt so depressed that they needed help, a Daybreak survey has revealed.

More than one in six of the 11 to 18-year-olds who admitted to feeling this kind of depression said it lasted a few months, with 15% of young people having to take time off school as a result.

Just under a third of youngsters said their depression was caused by problems at home, while more than half said they would turn to friends if they felt depressed, however, the same amount would turn to food for comfort.

Five hundred young people participated in the anonymous Daybreak Teenage Depression Survey.

Symptoms of depression in teenagers can include

• Continuous low mood or sadness
• Voicing/showing feelings of hopelessness and helplessness
• Frequent tearfulness
• Being irritable and intolerant of others
• Apparent lack of energy or motivation, and little or no enjoyment of things that were once interesting to them
• Slowed movement or speech
• Changes in appetite or weight (usually decreased, but sometimes increased) frequent unexplained aches and pains
• Disturbed sleep patterns (for example, problems going to sleep and/or waking throughout the night, particularly in the early hours of the morning)
• Losing interest or being disruptive at school or playing truant
• Constantly complaining that they feel bored or lonely

Source: NHS

For advice & help contact  Young Minds

Do you feel able to support your teenagers when they need help for depression?