FIVE SIGNS YOUR TEEN MAY NEED TO BE EVALUATED FOR DEPRESSION
If you’re the parent of a teen, you may have already witnessed enough drama and extreme mood swings to rival an episode of “Real Housewives.” But how do you know if what you’re seeing is typical teenage angst or something more? “Talk to your teen on a regular basis and do the best you can to know what’s going on in their life,” says Dr. Hilary Bowers, Director of Behavioral and Mental Health Services at Children’s Primary Care Medical Group. “By paying attention to their behavior, you will be able to recognize consistent or abrupt behavioral changes which could indicate an issue.” Here are five behaviors that may indicate your teen needs to be evaluated for depression. Dr. Bowers stresses that these symptoms need to occur every day for more than two weeks in a row. “A few bad days does not equal mental illness,” she says. 1. Social withdrawal Note if your teen starts to spend an excessive amount of time alone, losing interest in extracurricular activities and events at home or in s