Recognizing depression
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The most obvious sign of depression is definitely a change in behaviour, i.e. a person changes and no longer behaves the same way or as expected based on his or her personality.
Depression has a variety of symptoms that contribute to a diagnosis. Outward signs can point to serious suffering. However, there is no need for alarm at the slightest symptom: several symptoms must persist over time with no sign of improvement. However, if the person appears to be having thoughts of death or suicide, it is important to take them seriously and react. In such a case, you should call local resources or 1-866-APPELLE (277-3553).
A depressed young person may display some of the following signs:
Excessive irritability
The person is in a foul mood, bothered by every little thing, intolerant, even aggressive and violent. He or she is on edge.
Lasting "blues" or sadness
The person is rarely in a good mood and what used to seem funny to them no longer is. He or she cries often.
Loss of interest and pleasure in all activities
He loved hockey, she never missed a new movie and now there is no way to get him or her moving. The person is not easy to follow, and it’s hard to take his or her mind off things. Nothing is interesting anymore.
These visible signs of depression are also combined with more physical symptoms:
Disruption of appetite (loss or increase in appetite and/or weight)
This symptom can manifest itself in several ways: the person no longer wants to eat or eats more than normal. Essentially, eating habits change and the person can lose or gain weight.
Trouble sleeping: insomnia or hypersomnia
They can’t sleep anymore or sleep all the time. In either case, sleep is not restorative..
Agitation or slowdown
Normally active people become passive. Their movements and pace are slower. If they are normally calm, they become agitated.
Fatigue or lack of energy
They never recuperate, even if they sleep more than normal. They often say they are tired and have no energy.
There are also subjective, internal symptoms that only the person can communicate:
Low self-esteem or excessive guilt
The teen denigrates himself or herself, for example saying: “I’m not good at anything!: Their self-esteem is dropping. They feel responsible for everything.
Difficulties concentrating or indecision
They are unable to concentrate and their grades tumble down. They have difficulty making decisions.
Recurring thoughts of death or suicide
This symptom is difficult for a person’s friends or family to detect if the person does not talk about it. They may have recurring thoughts of death or suicide. They may come to see suicide as a way to end their suffering. They do not really want to die, just to end their suffering.
These symptoms are accompanied by changes in behaviour:
Withdrawal or social dependence
Teens may withdraw or shut down. They seem to be in hiding. Everyone thinks they want to be alone and stops paying attention to them. Convinced that they are alone in their suffering, they don’t understand what is happening and prefer that nobody know about it. Or they may impulsively seek out company and never want to be alone.
Masks
The situation worries them, but they don’t want others to see the shape they’re in. Young people may hide behind a mask and play the clown. They can even go so far as to bury their pain in alcohol or drugs, reassert their value through exaggerated sexuality or develop new behavioural problems (fighting, running away, stealing, etc.).
Denial or resistance
Teens may say: “Everything’s fine. I don’t need help.” They may be afraid of being judged because of all the prejudices about mental illness.
Here is a summary of the different signs of depression among young people:
VISIBLE SIGNS PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS SUBJECTIVE SYMPTOMS CHANGES IN BEHAVIOUR
Visible signs | Physical symptoms | Subjective symptoms | Subjective symptoms |
| • Excessive irritability • Depression or permanent sadness (frequent desire to cry) • Excessive worry • Difficulty making decisions • Loss of interest and pleasure in activities | • Appetite problems: Decrease or increase in appetite and/or weight • Trouble sleeping: insomnia or hypersomnia • Agitation or slowdown • Diminished concentration and/or memory • Diminished or loss of interest in sex • Fatigue or lack of energy | • Self-belittlement and loss of self-esteem • Feeling of indignity and persecution or excessive guilt • Difficulty concentrating and indecision • Feeling of isolation and solitude • Recurring thoughts of death or suicide | • Withdrawal or social dependence • Masks • Denial or resistance |
Certain physical illnesses can have symptoms that are similar to those of depression. This is why for any bout of depression, a health check-up and medical exam should be done.
IMPORTANT: For a young person to be suffering from depression, he or she must have a change in behaviour and several symptoms must persist for a time and show no sign of improvement.
Also, it is important that he consults a health care professional to receive a diagnosis and appropriate treatment.