What is depression?
Depression, also known as clinical depression or major depression, is a mood disorder. Depression is more than feeling "blue" or "down"; it is experiencing feelings of great sadness over an extended period of time. The main features of depression are a severely low mood and a loss of interest and pleasure in activities that were previously enjoyed, for most of the day, almost every day, for at least two weeks. In children and youth, a depressed mood may be replaced by an irritable mood, so youth may appear oppositional, easily frustrated, or angry.  This can make depression difficult to recognize in youth.
 
The symptoms (note: you do not need all of these for a diagnosis) of depression include:   
  • Feeling sad throughout the day, nearly everyday (may appear tearful)
  • Feeling worthless, helpless, hopeless
  • Sleeping too much or too little
  • Change in appetite or weight (+ or -)
  • Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
  • Loss of interest in or enjoyment from activities one used to enjoy
  • Avoiding others
  • Excessive or inappropriate feelings of guilt
  • Thoughts of death or suicide (click here for more information on suicide prevention)
  • Feelings of irritability
  • Fatigue or lack of energy
  • Aches and pains (such as headaches, stomach pain, joint pain, or other pains)
  • Feelings of restlessness or being slowed down

​Depression warrants professional support when it begins interfering with different areas of one's life (e.g., school, family, friends, work, or connecting to the community):
  • At home, you may become more withdrawn, quite, or angry. 
  • At school, your grades or schoolwork may suffer, you might start missing classes, or you may become argumentative in the classroom. 
  • In regards to peer relationships, you might stop or reduce spending time with your friends, stop engaging in extracurricular activities, and spend more time on the computer.

Who Experiences Depression?
According to the Mood Disorders Society of Canada, adolescence is the typical age of onset for depression with about 5% of children and adolescents experiencing depression at any give point in time.   Women are twice as likely as men to experience depression.  

Does Depression Get Better?
Yes, things can better.  The Mood Disorders Society of Canada reports that 80% of people respond well to treatment for depression.  Unfortunately, about 90% of people never seek treatment for their depression, rather they suffer in silence.

Should I get a Physical Exam:
It is important to rule out medical causes of depression as depression can mimic some a large number of medical conditions, including hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid, autoimmune disorders, anemia, or dietary disorders.

Resources for Depression
  • Dealing with Depression: Antidepressant Skills for Teens is a workbook created through the collaboration of Simon Fraser University and BC Mental Health Services and Addiction.  It provides youth with self-help strategies to manage their depression. An adult version is also available: Antidepressant Skills Workbook. 
  • MindCheck is a great resource for youth struggling with mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and eating disorders.  It is a website designed for youth. 
  • Teen Mental Health provides youth friendly information on a variety of mental health issues as well as resources for parents.  They offer a number of great resources, reports, and publications free of charge.
  • BC Crisis line provides you with access to "Youth in BC" live online chat.  The crisis line is designed to help youths in crisis or youth that just need someone to talk to.  Those working at the crisis line have been trained in mental health issues and they are available 24 hours a day. 
  • The MoodGYM training program helps youth learn cognitive behaviour therapy skills to help them cope with depression.
Nova Mental Health