Help with depression

You are not alone

Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions in America today, affecting an estimated 16 million adults each year. It's best to get help early for this serious, yet highly treatable physical illness before it becomes more severe. Your Student and Family Assistance Program offers free and accessible resources to help you or your household members create a plan and navigate the path to recovery.

Call us at 800-236-3231 for a free, confidential consultation with an SFAP counselor.

Understand depression

There are several different types of depression that can affect people in similar ways. Though everyone’s experience is different, most are characterized by the same range of symptoms, with different degrees of severity. Some examples include:

  • Major depression is typically characterized by symptoms that interfere with day-to-day functioning and last for more than two weeks, including severe fatigue, feelings of hopelessness, significant changes in sleep and appetite, and loss of interest in hobbies, social connections, work, and other activities. Treatment may include professional talk therapy, antidepressant medications, or a combination.
  • Postpartum depression develops for some women within the first 12 months after giving birth. This type of depression can involve persistent feelings of overwhelm, guilt, and worry, severe emotional volatility, or feelings of emptiness and numbness. As with major depression, treatment can include talk therapy and antidepressant medications.
  • Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) involves a serious mood change during darker winter months and can include many of the same symptoms as major depression, building in severity as the season progresses and lifting somewhat in the spring and summer. Treatment often includes light therapy, sometimes along with counseling and antidepressant medications.
  • Bipolar disorder (also known as manic depression) causes extreme changes in mood, thoughts, and behaviors, from mania to depression. Episodes can last for hours, days, weeks, or even longer. Though bipolar disorder is different from clinical depression, its symptoms are similar during depressive phases. Manic phases are characterized by agitation, restlessness, grandiose thoughts, racing speech, and reckless behavior.

Recognize teen symptoms

Occasional bad moods and acting out are normal for any teenager, but teen depression can lead to problems at home and school, drug abuse, self-loathing—even violence or suicide. Depression or thoughts of suicide are not usually just a way to get attention. They signal a deeper issue that should be addressed.

As a concerned parent or professional who works with teens, it’s vital to understand that depression in teens can look very different from depression in adults.

  • Chronic irritability, hostility, and a tendency toward angry outbursts are the predominant features of depression in teens, rather than sadness.
  • Teens suffering from depression may complain of headaches, stomachaches, or other aches and pains for which physical exams reveal no medical cause.
  • Depressed teens may be overwhelmed by feelings of worthlessness, which are sometimes indicated by extreme sensitivity to criticism.
  • While depressed adults tend to isolate themselves, depressed teens may maintain some friendships but withdraw noticeably from others.

Learn more about the effects of teen depression, tips for talking to teens, and treatment options in our Teen Depression: Guide for Parents and Teachers [PDF].

Be alert for suicide warning signs

If you ever suspect that someone you love may be suicidal, it’s critical to get help immediately. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), suicide is the 10th leading cause of death among adults and the 2nd among teens and young adults (10-24) in the U.S. today.

Always be alert for symptoms like:

  • Threats or suggestions of suicide, or in teens, talking or joking about committing suicide
  • Romanticizing dying or writing or speaking positively about death and suicide
  • Reckless or aggressive behavior, or mood shifts from despair to calm
  • Increasing withdrawal from friends, family, and the community
  • Giving away prized possessions or “putting their affairs in order”
  • Seeking out weapons, pills, or other ways to kill themselves

If you recognize some or all of these warning signs, call the our Student & Family Assistance Program 24/7 for consultation or The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255). If the situation is life-threatening, go to your nearest hospital or urgent care, or call 911 immediately.

Remember that denial is a strong emotion, and that the person at risk may downplay what they’re experiencing if asked. Trust your instincts and find help immediately.

Ask for help

Find more education, treatment, and support resources from these websites and organizations.