Teenage Depression: A Teacher's Perspective

As a high school teacher for the last fifteen years, I have seen the highs and lows of teenage life firsthand. Most of the happenings are part of the normal ebb and flow of life. Teenagers have their good days and their bad ones.

But, every so often, I have observed students who simply aren't just having a rough day. They didn't just miss the bus or break up with their significant other.

No, in fact, their lives are struggling. They do what they can to hide it, to seem normal and unaffected. Yet, if you know your students, if you really see your classroom, you'll understand full well that something deeper is at work.

Depression is not a grown-up concern alone. Thousands of teenagers face it each day, and their lives get turned upside down as a result. Trying to manage all that teenage life has to present is hard enough for the average, happy kid. So, when any form of depression sets in, their issues multiply, their troubles magnify, and they begin to see life through less hopeful eyes.

And while a teacher cannot cure a student's depression, we can normally be one of the first responders. Often times, we know these kids almost better than some parents, and we see them in the classroom daily, which gives us a repeated look at their patterns, personalities, and concerns.

So, what we need to be skilled in is the art of recognizing the warning signs. Some may be rather simple, almost obvious, while others a bit more complex, embedded somewhat deeper. But no matter how a depression presents itself, we can help our students by seeing the signs and taking action. Sometimes kids are looking for help but have no clue how to ask.

The following is a list of the most common symptoms I have encountered in my career for kids with teen depression.

Loss of enthusiasm and interest: While some high school students don't exhibit much drive, most have some level of investment. When that completely shuts down for an extended period of time, my sensors go off.

Headaches: Being a true headache sufferer myself, I can almost see it on a person's face when he is in the same pain. Headaches have always been an early indicator of depression, as the stress eats away at you. Be aware if a student continually talks of headache pain.

Fatigue: Teenagers don't sleep much, so they have their days, especially mornings, where they look like zombies. But when a student continually looks exhausted, from the way he act to the way he puts himself together, take notice.

Hygiene and appearance: A large part of depression is a person's general disinterest in caring for himself. Watch closely the student whose physical appearance declines and remains that way.

Loss of concentration: Slowed thinking and distracted thoughts get in the way of a student keeping any respectable level of concentration.

Academic trouble: This works in concert with most of the above. We all know that when performance plummets, there is a reason. Kids just don't begin failing unexplainably.

These six are certainly not the only symptoms of depression. In fact, there are plenty more. Just check any medical website and you'll find extensive lists. These six, however, do represent what I see most commonly in the classroom, and our ability to recognize them can truly change lives.

Once you do see any of these, remember that a teacher is not trained nor qualified to diagnose depression. Seek out guidance counselors and support services to see the student and begin the process of getting help. We are the first line of referral, but we are important to the over success of getting a student safe.