Helping Your Depressed Teenager

"The authors have produced a very readable, extremely well informedand comprehensive book that will add greatly to the knowledge baseof interested parents. This book is strongly recommended."--Stewart Gable, MD Chairman, Department of Psychiatry TheChildren's Hospital, Denver, Colorado You supported and encouragedthem as they grew from toddlers to teens. Now you are confrontedwith one of the toughest challenges you and they will ever face .teenage depression. Adolescence is a period of peaks and valleys.Most teens negotiate these years with relative ease; yet for somethese times are treacherous with countless pitfalls. Whendepression ensues, it can interfere with much of your child'spotential. Clinical depression is now epidemic among Americanteens, and teen suicide can be a deadly consequence. Helping YourDepressed Teenager is a practical guide offering family solutionsto a family problem. This book will sensitize you to the hiddenstruggles of adolescents and assist you in understanding theirmultifaceted problems. The authors are experts in this field andhave helped countless youngsters confront and overcome theirdepressed mood. In a highly readable and gentle manner, they helpyou see behind the "masks" of troubled teens who attempt to hidetheir true feelings. They help you distinguish the subtle andsometimes not so subtle signs that something is seriously wrong.And they help you provide the loving support and assistanceteenagers need to make it through this difficult life passage. Someof the useful information provided:
* What families can do to prevent teen depression
* How to tell the difference between moodiness and depression
* How to read the warning signs of a troubled teenager
* How to know when professional help is needed and where to findit
* How to choose the right treatment options for your teen THE TEENAGE YEARS.

On Becoming a Teenager.

Today's Teenagers: Is There Something Wrong?.

The Early Teen Years: Are They Truly a Wonder?.

Graduation and Beyond.

DEPRESSION AND SUICIDE IN TEENAGERS.

Understanding Clinical Depression.

Is Your Teenager Depressed?.

Teenage Suicide: A Not-So-Secret Killer.

Suicide: Intervention and Prevention.

The Family's Influence on Depression and Suicide.

TREATMENT CONSIDERATIONS.

Evaluating the Depressed Teenager.

Bringing Teenagers to Counseling.

Seeking Counseling as a Family.

The Use of Medication in Treating Teenage Depression.

When Considering Hospitalization for Your Teenager.

Concluding Remarks.

Appendix.

Selected Bibliography and Resources.

Index. GERALD D. OSTER, PhD, is a Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Maryland Medical School and maintains a private practice in clinical child psychology. SARAH S. MONTGOMERY, MSW, is a child and family therapist at the University of Maryland Medical System Department of Psychiatry. "The authors have produced a very readable, extremely well informed and comprehensive book that will add greatly to the knowledge base of interested parents. This book is strongly recommended." —Stewart Gable, MD Chairman, Department of Psychiatry The Children’s Hospital, Denver, Colorado You supported and encouraged them as they grew from toddlers to teens. Now you are confronted with one of the toughest challenges you and they will ever face … teenage depression. Adolescence is a period of peaks and valleys. Most teens negotiate these years with relative ease; yet for some these times are treacherous with countless pitfalls. When depression ensues, it can interfere with much of your child’s potential. Clinical depression is now epidemic among American teens, and teen suicide can be a deadly consequence. Helping Your Depressed Teenager is a practical guide offering family solutions to a family problem. This book will sensitize you to the hidden struggles of adolescents and assist you in understanding their multifaceted problems. The authors are experts in this field and have helped countless youngsters confront and overcome their depressed mood. In a highly readable and gentle manner, they help you see behind the "masks" of troubled teens who attempt to hide their true feelings. They help you distinguish the subtle and sometimes not so subtle signs that something is seriously wrong. And they help you provide the loving support and assistance teenagers need to make it through this difficult life passage. Some of the useful information provided:

• What families can do to prevent teen depression
• How to tell the difference between moodiness and depression
• How to read the warning signs of a troubled teenager
• How to know when professional help is needed and where to find it
• How to choose the right treatment options for your teen