|  | Conditions Treatments | Depression

Teen Depression: Causes and Risk Factors

More often than not, a chemical imbalance in the brain causes depression. Unfortunately, other additional factors can play into depression, especially in teenagers. It is important to look for the risk factors in order to keep your teenager happy and healthy.

  1. Genes

    • Depression is genetic. If a family member has depression, it is possible that the teenager may have depression as well.

    Bad Experiences

    • Bad experiences, such as a death of a family member, rape or other factors can lead to depression. Unfortunately, not all of these can be prevented.

    Personality Traits

    • According to the Health Center, personality traits such as pessimism and low self-esteem make teenagers more susceptible to depression.

    Social Life

    • Teenagers' social tendencies play a big part in their emotional status. Having the wrong friends or being made fun of at school can cause depression in teenagers.

    Chemical Imbalances

    • A chemical imbalance in the brain seems to be the primary cause for depression. In this case, medication may be able to treat depression symptoms, although it is not usually recommended for those under the age of 18.

Depression - Related Articles