What is depression?
Emotional ups and downs are typical for teenagers. But depression is much more than just feeling down – it’s a serious mental health condition.
Is depression a disability?
Depression can be considered a disability under Australian law. For depression to be considered a disability, there needs to be evidence that it:
- is severe
- is long term
- has a substantial effect on everyday life.
How does depression affect teens with disability, ADHD or chronic conditions?
Teenagers with disability, ADHD or chronic conditions are more likely to experience depression than their peers. This is because their conditions can get in the way of everyday life, make them feel different and stop them from doing the things they want to do.
What are depression symptoms in teens with disability, ADHD or chronic conditions?
Depression symptoms are similar in all teenagers. They include low energy, poor appetite and sleep problems. But if teens have disability, a chronic condition or ADHD, their physical symptoms can mask these symptoms. This can sometimes make it difficult to know what’s happening.
If your teen with disability, ADHD or a chronic condition has depression, they might:
- say they feel worthless, helpless or hopeless, or say things like ‘Nothing will ever improve’ or ‘I can’t do anything’
- refuse to do treatments like physiotherapy exercises or take medicines, or say things like ‘What’s the point?’ or ‘It won’t help’
- say they’re not good enough because of their disability or condition
- seem withdrawn or not want to do activities they used to enjoy
- get agitated, particularly if they’re non-verbal
- be rude to people, including their medical professionals.
How to get help for your teen with disability and depression
If left untreated, teenage depression can have serious, long-term consequences. If you think your teen has depression, it’s important to seek professional help as early as possible.
Most young people won’t seek help themselves, so your child will probably need your help to get professional support. If you’ve tried to talk with your child about your concerns but they’ve refused help or said there’s nothing wrong, you might need to seek help by yourself to start with.
There are many people and places you can go to for help:
- your GP – keep in mind that sometimes teenagers are more comfortable talking to a GP who doesn’t also see their parents, a younger doctor or a doctor of the same gender
- other professionals who work with your child
- a school counsellor
- a psychologist or counsellor
- your local community health centre
- local mental health services.
If your child tells you they’re having persistent thoughts about hurting themselves or that they want to die, seek urgent professional help. Call your state or territory mental health service or Lifeline on 131 114, or go to your GP or a hospital emergency department. People who are depressed are at increased risk of suicide.
How to support your teen with depression: tips
If your child has depression, they might feel upset or frustrated that they have another diagnosis and treatment plan to deal with. It’s important to reassure your child that depression is manageable and that you’ll be there to support them.
There are many practical things you can do to support your child through depression while also helping them to manage their condition.
Emotions
- Help your child learn how to talk about all their emotions. Teens with disability or a chronic condition are often praised for being brave or told to stay positive, which can make it harder for them to talk about feeling sad or hopeless.
- Acknowledge the challenges your child faces because of their condition and let them know it’s OK to feel frustrated or angry.
- Encourage your child to be kind to themselves when they’re having a hard time.
- Ask your child what they need to hear when they’re feeling down. Encourage them to think about what they’d say to a friend in a similar situation.
- Help your child create a list of activities that feel manageable, enjoyable or worthwhile for when they’re feeling down.
- Help your child focus on their strengths. What are they good at? Where can they succeed? What interests them?
- Find positive role models for your child. For example, talk about celebrities, sportspeople or other well-known people with similar conditions.
Relationships
- Spend time with your child doing activities they enjoy.
- Be consistent in the way you use family rules and consequences with all your children.
- Help your child plan how to keep up with schoolwork and friends if they’re away for treatments.
- Talk with your child about whether they want to tell their friends about their condition – and if so, how and when they want to do it.
- Help your child find a peer network for teens with disability or chronic conditions. This could be a face-to-face or online group.
- Support your child’s friendships and help them find ways to make new friends. You could encourage them to invite friends to your home, make new friends at the hospital, keep in touch by texting or gaming, or join a club.
- Encourage your child to get involved in physical activities.
- Look for ways that your child can be independent. For example, your child might be able to choose foods within a given diet.
- Teach your child how to keep their health needs organised – for example, by keeping a diary of appointments or storing medicines properly.
- Help your child to think about their long-term goals – for example, whether they want to go to university or what jobs they’re interested in.
Strong parent-teenager relationships are important for young people’s mental health. A sense of belonging to family and friends can help to protect them from mental health problems like depression. Your support can have a direct and positive influence on your teen’s mental and physical health.
Financial support for teens with depression and disability
Your child might be able to get Medicare rebates for up to 10 sessions with a mental health professional each calendar year. To get these rebates, your child will need a mental health treatment plan from a GP or a referral from a psychiatrist or paediatrician.
If your child is an NDIS participant, you can contact the NDIS to find out whether you can include support for depression in your child’s plan.
Looking after yourself
It’s important to look after yourself. If you’re meeting your own needs, you’ll be better able to meet your child’s needs.
Here are ways to look after yourself:
- Contact a support program for parents of children with disability or chronic conditions.
- Talk to your GP.
Look into respite care so you can have a break.