How common is depression in the teen years?

Depression occurs in children and adolescents often, but not exclusively, in contexts of strong stresses such as family discord, abuse, or failure at school. Nationally, about 5 percent of adolescents have major depression. Common symptoms include physical complaints, sad appearance, poor self-esteem, and withdrawal.

Depression can be protracted and tends to recur, so it's best not to delay but to help. Evaluation and treatment, perhaps with family involvement, can minimize later complications such as substance abuse, interference in social maturation, poor academic performance, and suicide.

Suicide in depressed adolescents should be taken seriously. The suicide rate among 15- to 19-year-olds has been rising dramatically over the last decades. Although girls more frequently attempt suicide, boys complete suicides about five times as frequently as girls. In 1991, an adolescent committed suicide in the United States every 90 minutes.

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