A young mind is very impressionable and therefore it is more prone to emotional upheavals than the average adult mind.
In a modern day scenario, the child is burdened with the expectations of parents and society that may seem small and insignificant but certain occurrences can have a serious affect.
Such occurrences that seem insignificant to the mature and adult mind can act as a trigger point and lead a child to depression.
Teenage suicide is the third highest cause of death among youngsters aged between the age 15 to 24 years.
Teenagers tend to resort to easy and temporary solutions like alcohol, drugs or sex, since these are all readily available today.
These are dangerous shortcuts that only amount to a temporary escape from a depressed state.
However, these can aggravate suicidal tendencies.
Teenage depression can be prevented.
The support from close family can prove to be the best teenage depression help that you can find.
Although professional teenage depression help is readily available as well as counselors at school and professional therapists can help the situation, parental support is still a must.
Parents are in a position to notice the early signs of depression and therefore their support is the most important in preventing the onset of a full depressive state.
With classroom numbers so high personal attention is not always possible, so you cannot depend on teachers to notice possible symptoms.
Teenage depression can manifest itself in many forms.
Isolation, oversleeping and despondency are the first signs that should ring warning bells.
If you have a healthy relationship with your child, you will be in a much better position to counsel your child the need arises.
There are some steps that you can take if you see the early signs of depression creeping on your child.
If you believe your child is depressed and possibly contemplating suicide, hide or remove any lethal weapons that you may have at home.
Do not hesitate to discuss it with your child, but if you are not ready to discuss the topic openly then discuss it in a third tense.
Suicide is usually an impulsive action and getting your child to actually speak about it may break this cycle.
Your attempts to talk to them will be received as a response to the need that is being felt.
You should assure your child that you are there to help them, no matter what the problem is.
If you find it difficult to bring up the subject, use television shows, films, newspaper articles to bring up the topic.
Even if you have to resort to concocting a story about your own childhood, do it.
Do anything that means the necessary dialogue is opened.
Teenagers associate with others peoples problems very quickly, especially those that involve their parents.
Do not dismiss the problem as trivial or get angry.
Just sit and listen to your child.
Teenagers brains go through many hormonal and physical changes and it is impossible to see things from their perspective.
The teenager brain fantasizes a lot which means that certain problems may be imaginary.
However, if you trivialize them, they are more likely to get even more depressed.
This is because your teenager believes the problem to be true.
For them it is.
You may have heard of the saying "A problem shared is a problem halved".
Provide opportunities for your teenager to share problems with you.
Spend time with them that is dedicated to them and nothing else.
Encourage them to discuss their problems with friends.
Sometimes peer help can be more beneficial than help from within the family.
As a parent it is your responsibility to try and prepare your child for the struggles they are likely to face as they grow older.
But if you are more interested in your own problems and do not give quality time to your children, you may be, indirectly, forcing them into a situation that may have dire consequences.