Do you remember what it was like to be a teen-ager? Getting your first "real" job, passing your driving test, going to the high school dance? For some these events hold precious memories. For others, the teen years were plagued by insecurities and anxiety, leading to depression. As a parent, could you recognize the signs of a depressed teenager, or is this "phase" just a part of growing up?

Perhaps you have questioned whether young people can become depressed in the first place. 'Kids nowadays have no worries like adults' we may assume. Or 'I made it thru my teen years, why can't they?' Adults should avoid comparing the days of their adolescence with that of today's teens. In her book "Understanding Your Teenager's Depression", Dr. Kathleen McCoy states, "They're growing up in a world quite different from that of their parents' youth". Dr. McCoy also added, " Teens today feel less safe, less empowered and less hopeful than we did a generation ago . "

How can a parent really tell if their growing teen is depressed or not? First of all, parents and adults should understand that there is a significant difference between having the blues and being depressed. There are at least two key elements that help doctors diagnose clinical depression in people of all ages and backgrounds. They are intensity and duration.

Intensity means the degree to which the negative feelings overwhelm the young person. Depression is more than a small case of despair; rather it is an all-consuming emotionally draining illness that seriously jeopardizes the teenager's ability to function in a normal healthy way.

Duration involves how long the state of listlessness continues. Clinical professors Leon Cytryn and Donald H. McKnew , Jr. explains , " a child who shows no signs of being comforted or of resuming a normal life within a week after falling into a low mood ( for whatever reason ) or within six months after undergoing what is to him a severe loss- is at risk of developing a depressive disorder . "

Obviously then, some teenagers can become depressed and it isn't something that adults or parents should brush off as just a part of growing up. How can a concerned parent or adult recognize the telltale symptoms of depression?

Consulting a doctor is an important step in diagnosing depression or any other kind of illness. The symptoms presented serve as an overview for concerned parents or adults.

Sudden change in mood and behavior. Your teenager may

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