Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders among children and adolescents. It can manifest in young people in various ways, from subtle mood and behavior changes to more severe daily life disruptions. Watching a child struggle with mental health problems is devastating, and it’s difficult to know how to help a child or teen who isn’t acting like themselves.
Unfortunately, depression doesn’t usually go away on its own. It can lead to more severe mental and physical health issues down the line, including substance use, eating disorders, self-harm behaviors, and even suicide. Understanding the difference between minor and major depression—and warning signs to watch out for—can be key in helping your teen recover their mental health and prevent an escalation of symptoms.
Key Takeaways
- More than 20 percent of young people ages 12 and up experienced depression in the last year, increasing from 13 percent in 2017.
- Minor depression presents with fewer or less intense symptoms than major depression but still interferes with daily functioning.
- Understanding the difference between minor and major depression can help prevent an escalation of symptoms and help your teen recover faster.
- Newport Academy offers residential and outpatient programs for teens ages 12–18 where trained professionals can help uncover the root cause of the depression and create sustainable healing.
What Is Minor Depression?
Rates of teen depression have skyrocketed in recent years. More than 20 percent of young people ages 12 and up experienced depression in the last year, increasing from 13 percent in 2017 and 8 percent in 2007. Rising levels of reported teen depression, stress, anxiety, self-harm, and suicidal behaviors are major concerns for parents and caretakers across the country.
Also known as subthreshold depression, minor depression presents with fewer or less intense symptoms than major depression but still interferes with daily functioning. While the symptoms may be fewer in number or less intense, they persist for at least two weeks and typically include sadness, irritability, withdrawal, and low motivation. Minor depression often develops into major depression if left untreated.
Minor depression also differs from persistent depressive disorder (PDD), used to describe two conditions previously known as dysthymia and chronic major depression. PDD is mild or moderate depression that lasts for at least two years in adults, one year in children and teens. The symptoms of PDD are less severe than major depressive disorder. Minor depression in teens can turn into PDD if problems persist for one year.
Causes of Minor Depression in Teens
Adolsescents experience a lot of ups and downs during this stage of growth. Academic and peer pressure, along with rapid physical changes can have a serious impact on mental health. It is common for teens to have mood swings or a depressed mood sometimes.
Here are some genetic, global, and environmental factors that contribute to teen depression:
- Traumatic experiences and PTSD from things like bullying, neglect, abuse, high-pressure environments, or not feeling a sense of belonging in the world
- Brain chemistry imbalances
- A history of depression or other mental disorders in the family
- The impact of social media on teens can be significantly detrimental to mental health, exposing young people to cyberbullying, body image issues, and tech addiction.
- Discrimination based on things like body size, race and LGBTQ+ identity
- Lack of helpful coping skills
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Minor Depression vs. Major Depression in Teens: Signs and Symptoms
The difference between minor depression and major depression boils down to the number and severity of symptoms. Minor depression is milder but still causes difficulty in daily functioning. It’s easy to hope minor depression is a phase and that it will go away on its own, which means many children don’t get the treatment and care they need to thrive. However, untreated depression typically gets worse, not better.
Depressive symptoms in adults can be different than those in teens or younger children, and many parents may not know the warning signs to watch out for. Here are the signs and symptoms of minor and major depression to look for in your child.
Signs and Symptoms of Major Depression in Teens
- Feeling hollow, sad, and hopeless
- Suicidal thoughts, plans, or ideation
- Sense of worthlessness and guilt
- Low self-esteem and high levels of self-criticism
- Fatigue
- Sleeping problems (insomnia or hypersomnia)
- Difficulty concentrating and making decisions
- Fixation on perceived failures and inadequacies
- Irritability, moodiness, or aggression
- Low levels of motivation
- Physical symptoms, such as aches and pains, headaches, and stomach problems
- Changes in school performance, such as a decline in grades
- Decreased social habits
Signs and Symptoms of Minor Depression in Teens
- Low mood
- Lethargy or fatigue
- Seemingly doesn’t care about things anymore
- Feelings of low self-worth; self-berating comments or thoughts
- Irritability and moodiness
- Sleeping longer than normal
- Retreating to their bedroom more frequently
- Not wanting to leave the house
- Changes in social behaviors with friends and family (spending time with others less often)
- Trouble sleeping
- Changes in academic performance
- Difficulty concentrating
- High sensitivity to perceived criticism
- Physical complaints, such as headaches or gut problems
One way to distinguish between major and minor depression in teens is to determine how much daily functioning is impacted. If your child is battling school refusal or suicidal ideation, they are likely dealing with major depression. If they’re still able to get through most of their daily obligations but are clearly struggling, minor depression may be the culprit. Assessment and treatment are crucial for understanding and improving your child’s mental health.
4 Ways Early Intervention for Minor Depression Helps Teens
One of the most significant factors in addressing childhood and adolescent depression is early intervention and treatment. Here’s how:
1. Building life skills. Minor depression, when untreated, can gradually worsen over time. Early intervention—including therapy, family support, medication, or lifestyle changes—teaches teens valuable life skills and tools for boosting mental health. These tools include learning to manage difficult emotions, build resilience in the face of life stressors, navigate external pressures, and reduce the risk of future depressive episodes.
2. Addressing root causes. Identifying these issues early can make treatment more effective and lead to long-term improvements in emotional regulation and mental health. Comprehensive therapy provides a supportive space for children and teens to explore the underlying causes of their distress. Depression can stem from things like:
- Genetic factors
- Environmental stressors
- Academic pressures and teen burnout
- Social challenges
- Undiagnosed learning disabilities
3. Reducing the risk of self-harm or suicide. Major depression, especially in adolescents, can lead to self-harming behaviors or suicidal ideation. By intervening early, therapists can address these risks before they escalate, providing a safety net for the child and their family.
4. Providing comprehensive support. Comprehensive therapy offers support in multiple areas of a teen’s life. At Newport, we offer a variety of layers of support to ensure sustained healing. These include:
- Family therapy to improve parent-child dynamics, encourage authentic communication, and heal familial issues
- Group therapy so your teen feels seen and understood by peers navigating similar issues
- Experiential therapies like meditation, yoga, art, and music all allow your teen to engage in hands-on healing
- Individual therapy helps your teen go at their own pace to address
- Academic support provides access to individualized instruction and build on your child’s strengths.
Learn more about how teenage depression treatment can help your child and family.
Treatment at Newport Academy
If your teen is struggling with minor depression, you don’t have to navigate it alone.
Teen depression treatment at Newport Academy encompasses relational, emotional, and physical healing. Our levels of care include teen residential treatment programs and outpatient programs so your family gets the support they need. No matter which program you choose, we address root causes and help your teen and family develop life skills to support long term mental health recovery and growth.
Get started on the path to healing. To learn more about teen treatment at Newport and see whether it’s right for your family, contact us for a free teen mental health assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
National Institute of Mental Health
