Depression is a medical illness that results in psychological and physical symptoms. It can happen at any age, including during adolescence.
Roughly one in five teenagers will suffer with depression at some point but many will be too depressed to get the right treatment.
When teen depression goes untreated, the outcome can be serious and result in:
- Poor performance at school
- Troubled relationships
- Increased rates of substance abuse
- Risky sexual behaviour
- Increased bouts of physical illness
- Suicide attempts and completions.
Read more about the symptoms of depression here