Dear Kathy,
I am worried that my 17 year old daughter might be depressed. She’s in her room most of the time these days. She’s hardly socializing with her friends or participating in activities she used to enjoy. Her grades have slipped a lot, too. She doesn’t seem to care about anything anymore. How can I tell if this is a normal teenage phase or if she’s really depressed?
“Fran”
Dear “Fran,”
You are right to be worried. It is always better to be safe than sorry in cases of depression. Make an immediate appointment with a psychiatrist (preferably board certified in child and adolescent psychiatry) for your daughter to be evaluated and assessed for suicidality. Don’t delay. In addition to making an immediate appointment with a psychiatrist, make an appointment for her to receive one-on-one counseling with someone specializing in adolescents, if possible. Please update me on your daughter’s prognosis. My thoughts and good wishes are with you!
Sincerely,
Kathy
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