How to Increase a Teenager's Serotonin Levels

Serotonin is a brain chemical theorized to be a culprit in depression and suicide if it is not present in a sufficient amount. However, using medication to improve serotonin levels is controversial because it "plays a role not only in the treatment of depression but also in susceptibility to depression and suicide," says a study published in 2007 by Simon Young, a researcher at McGill University in Canada who investigated how to increase the serotonin in the brain. Knowing how to increase serotonin safely, with drugs or without, is very important in maintaining your teenager's mental health.

Instructions

Choose Methods That Work For Your Teen

• 1

  Try medication. An obvious way to increase serotonin levels is through drug therapy. There are a number of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, known as SSRIs, on the market that a psychiatrist can prescribe. The drugs are designed to stabilize and repair serotonin levels in the brain. However, you need to be very careful when using SSRIs with a teenager. Basically the only SSRI that is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for teens is Prozac. The FDA strongly advises against the use of basically all other SSRIs with teens because of concerns they increase the risk for suicidal behavior, the New York Times Health Guide states.

• 2

  Use bright light, whether artificial or natural, as a non-pharmacological way to increase serotonin. This is a common treatment for seasonal depression, and a few studies suggest it is an effective treatment for other types of depression, Young said in his 2007 report. He cited "a positive correlation between serotonin synthesis and the hours of sunlight on the day the measurements were made." So get your teenager to go outside, even if it's to walk the dog. Inside, have lots of bright lights available and turn them on when your teenager is in the room.

• 3

  Encourage your teen to exercise. Young said the link between exercise and increased serotonin is well demonstrated and that exercise often helps symptoms of depression. It also improves the moods of people who don't suffer from depression. Outdoor exercise has the dual benefit of getting your teen more sunlight.

• 4

  Consider modifying your teen's diet. Young's report summarized a study that showed foods with tryptophan could help increase serotonin levels. Tryptophan is present in small amounts in milk and greater amounts in chickpeas, both wild and cultivated. Try integrating more foods with trytophan into your teen's diet and see what happens.