Is it Teen Angst, or is it Depression?

The phenomenon of teenage angst has been widely acknowledged in the literature. Ask any parent about this issue and you will probably get a lengthy story about their teenager locking themselves in their rooms, refusing to engage with the family or being extremely moody. Physiological changes occurring in adolescence can prompt many teens to feel depressed or moody. But how can parents and teens differentiate between the normal angst of adolescence and the development of a more serious mental health problem, such as depression?

Answering this question is difficult, as current scientific research regarding teen depression indicates that the phenomenon is more common than once thought. Statistics provided by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) demonstrate that one in every 17 individuals in the U.S. currently suffers from a mental illness. Data also indicates that half of individuals with mental illness begin to exhibit symptoms of their disorder by age 14. Thus, if your teen is experiencing significant changes in mood or depressive symptoms that do not seem to abate, it is possible that these issues may indicate the development of an underlying mental health problem. Early detection and treatment will be key to improving outcomes for the adolescent across his or her lifespan.

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