What do I do if I suspect my child or teen is depressed?

Talk to them about it. If you have the feeling that your child is unhappy, depressed, stressed, whatever the case may be, talking to them in a non-judgmental way that shows you love and support them is the first step we must take as parents.

Ask then if they have anything they want to talk about with you. If you still suspect something is wrong tell them how you feel and why you assume something is wrong and that they deserve to be happy and that you'll get them help if they need it.

Show love compassion patience and a sillingness to actively listen to them when they are ready to talk. Be an encourager not a judge, show you love them for who they are no matter how they feel or act - its hard work and emotionally exhausting so make sure you also care for you and have a support network - you can only help them if healthy yourself.

Try to talk to him. Try to make him believe that you are a friend and you will not judge him. Make him comfortable by citing experiances from the lows that you yourself have faced in your life. It will help him open up his heart to you.

Talk to your child about his feelings and the things happening at home and at school that may be bothering him. Tell your child's doctor. Some medical problems can cause depression. Your child's doctor may recommend psychotherapy (counseling to help people with emotions and behavior) or medicine for depression. Your child's doctor may now screen your child for depression every year from ages 11 through 21, with suicide now a leading cause of death among adolescents. Treat any thoughts of suicide as an emergency. What can I do to help? Promote health The basics for good mental health include a healthy diet, enough sleep, exercise, and positive connections with other people at home and at school. Limit screen time and encourage physical activity to help develop positive connections with others. One-on-one time with parents, praise for good behavior, and pointing out strengths build the parent-child bond. Provide safety and security Talk with your child about bullying. Being the victim of bullying is a major cause of mental health problems in children. Look for grief or loss issues. Seek help if problems with grief do not get better. If you as a parent are grieving a loss, get help and find additional support for your child. Reduce stress. Short-term changes in the amount of schoolwork, chores, or activities, may be needed. Weapons, medicines (including those you buy without a prescription), and alcohol should be locked up.

Tips for communicating with a depressed teen Focus on listening, not lecturing. Resist any urge to criticize or pass judgment once your teenager begins to talk. The important thing is that your child is communicating. You’ll do the most good by simply letting your teen know that you’re there for them, fully and unconditionally. Be gentle but persistent. Don’t give up if they shut you out at first. Talking about depression can be very tough for teens. Even if they want to, they may have a hard time expressing what they’re feeling. Be respectful of your child’s comfort level while still emphasizing your concern and willingness to listen. Acknowledge their feelings. Don’t try to talk your teen out of depression, even if their feelings or concerns appear silly or irrational to you. Well-meaning attempts to explain why “things aren’t that bad” will just come across as if you don’t take their emotions seriously. To make them feel understood and supported, simply acknowledging the pain and sadness they are experiencing can go a long way in making them feel understood and supported. Trust your gut. If your teen claims nothing is wrong but has no explanation for what is causing the depressed behavior, you should trust your instincts. If your teen won’t open up to you, consider turning to a trusted third party: a school counselor, favorite teacher, or mental health professional. The important thing is to get them talking to someone.

Tell your kid your concern and say: Whatever you’re going through is okay. You can simply talk to me. Offer support and hugs. If somebody suffers depression, make sure they know they aren’t alone.

Support, do not question them, listen to them, show appreciation for the little they don and motivate them to talk about the normal day to day activities, once you find it comfortable speaking to them daily, slowly introduce the topic and the moment you get a negative response continue the daily conversations. This will work up to a open line of communication.

Its important to first talk about what might be going on in your child's life and Assumption is the first mistake we make.If however they are depressed then its important to encourage them to talk to a professional individual or even you if they feel comfortable. Giving support, a listening ear sometimes advice is important.depression put you in a state that can lead to suicide and no one wants that for their child, that's why a good relationship is important in the home and in parenting.

Talk to them, let them know that your are always there for them if they ever need support or someone to talk to :)