Depression and High School 

Students

Answers to students’ frequently asked questions about depression.

Depression can occur during adolescence, a time of great 

personal change. You may be facing changes in where you 

go to school, your friends, your after-school activities, as well as 

in relationships with your family members. You may have different feelings about the type of person you want to be, your future 

plans, and may be making decisions for the first time in your life.

Many students don’t know where to go for mental health 

treatment or believe that treatment won’t help. Others don’t get 

help because they think depression symptoms are just part of the 

typical stresses of school or being a teen. Some students worry 

what other people will think if they seek mental health care.

This fact sheet addresses common questions about depression 

and how it can affect high school students.

Q What is depression?

A Depression is a common but serious mental illness typically 

marked by sad or anxious feelings. Most students occasionally 

feel sad or anxious, but these emotions usually pass quickly—

within a couple of days. Untreated depression lasts for a long 

time and interferes with your day-to-day activities.

Q What are the symptoms of 

depression?

A Different people experience different symptoms of 

depression. If you are depressed, you may feel:

• Sad

• Anxious

• Empty

• Hopeless

• Guilty

• Worthless

• Helpless

• Irritable

• Restless.

Natio N al i N stitute of Me N tal Healt H

You may also experience 

one or more of the 

following symptoms:

• Loss of interest in 

activities you used 

to enjoy

• Lack of energy

• Problems concentrating, remembering information, 

or making decisions

• Problems falling sleep, staying asleep, or sleeping 

too much

• Loss of appetite or eating too much

• Thoughts of suicide or suicide attempts

• Aches, pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems 

that do not go away.

Depression in adolescence frequently co-occurs with other 

disorders such as anxiety, disruptive behavior, eating disorders, or substance abuse. It can also lead to increased risk 

for suicide.

Q Are there different types of 

depression?

A Yes. The most common depressive disorders are:

• Major depressive disorder—also called major depression.

The symptoms of major depression are disabling and 

interfere with everyday activities such as studying, eating, 

and sleeping. People with this disorder may have only one 

episode of major depression in their lifetimes. But more 

often, depression comes back repeatedly.

• Dysthymic disorder—also called dysthymia. Dysthymia is 

mild, chronic depression. The symptoms of dysthymia last 

for a long time—2 years or more. Dysthymia is less severe 

than major depression, but it can still interfere with everyday activities. People with dysthymia may also experience 

one or more episodes of major depression during their 

lifetimes.
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• Minor depression—similar to major depression and 

dysthymia. Symptoms of minor depression are less 

severe and/or are usually shorter term. Without treatment, however, people with minor depression are at 

high risk for developing major depressive disorder.

Other types of depression include:

• Psychotic depression—severe depression accompanied by some form of psychosis, such as hallucinations 

and delusions.

• Seasonal affective disorder—depression that begins 

during the winter months and lifts during spring and 

summer.

Q What causes depression?

A Depression does not have a single cause. Several factors 

can lead to depression. Some people carry genes that 

increase their risk of depression. But not all people with 

depression have these genes, and not all people with these 

genes have depression. Environment—your surroundings 

and life experiences—also affects your risk for depression. 

Any stressful situation may trigger depression. And high 

school students encounter a number of stressful situations!

Q	How can I find out if I have

depression?

A The first step is to talk with your parents or a trusted adult 

who can help you make an appointment to speak with a 

doctor or mental health care provider. Your family doctor or 

school counselor may also be able to help you find appropriate care.

The doctor or mental health care provider can do an exam 

to help determine if you have depression or if you have 

another health or mental health problem. Some medical 

conditions or medications can produce symptoms similar 

to depression.

The doctor or mental health care provider will ask you 

about:

• Your symptoms

• Your history of depression

• Your family’s history of depression

• Your medical history

• Alcohol or drug use

• Any thoughts of death or suicide.

Q How is depression treated?

A A number of very effective treatments for depression are 

available. The most common treatments are antidepressants and psychotherapy. An NIMH-funded clinical trial of 

439 teens with major depression found that a combination of 

medication and psychotherapy was the most effective treatment option.1

 A doctor or mental health care provider can 

help you find the treatment that’s right for you.

Q What are antidepressants?

A Antidepressants work on brain chemicals called neurotransmitters, especially serotonin and norepinephrine. Other 

antidepressants work on the neurotransmitter dopamine. 

Scientists have found that these particular chemicals are 

involved in regulating mood, but they are unsure of the exact 

ways that they work. 

Q If a doctor prescribes an 

antidepressant, how long will I 

have to take it?

A You will need to take regular doses of antidepressants for 

4 to 6 weeks before you feel the full effect of these medicines. 

Some people need to take antidepressants for a short time. 

If your depression is long lasting or comes back again and 

again, you may need to take antidepressants longer.

Q What is psychotherapy?

A Psychotherapy involves talking with a mental health care 

professional to treat a mental illness. Types of psychotherapy 

that have been shown to be effective in treating depression 

include:

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which helps people 

change negative styles of thinking and behavior that may 

contribute to depression

Interpersonal therapy (IPT), which helps people 

understand and work through troubled personal 

relationships that may cause or worsen depression.

Depending on the type and severity of your depression, a mental 

health professional may recommend short-term therapy, lasting 

10 to 20 weeks, or longer-term therapy.
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Q How can I help myself if I am 

depressed?

A If you have depression, you may feel exhausted, helpless, 

and hopeless. But it is important to realize that these feelings are part of the depression and do not reflect your real 

circumstances. Treatment can help you feel better.

To help yourself feel better:

• Give treatment a fair chance—attend sessions and 

follow your doctor’s or therapist’s advice, including 

advice about specific exercises or “homework” to try 

between appointments

• Engage in mild physical activity or exercise

• Participate in activities that you used to enjoy

• Break up large projects into smaller tasks and do 

what you can

• Spend time with or call your friends and family

• Expect your mood to improve gradually with treatment

• Remember that positive thinking will replace negative 

thoughts as your depression responds to treatment.

Q How can I help a friend who is 

depressed?

A If you think a friend may have depression, you can help him 

or her get diagnosed and treated. Make sure he or she talks 

to an adult and gets evaluated by a doctor or mental health 

provider. If your friend seems unable or unwilling to seek 

help, offer to go with him or her and tell your friend that his 

or her health and safety is important to you.

Encourage your friend to stay in treatment or seek a different treatment if he or she does not begin to feel better after 

6 to 8 weeks.

You can also:

• Offer emotional support, understanding, patience, 

and encouragement

• Talk to your friend, not necessarily about depression, and 

listen carefully

• Never discount the feelings 

your friend expresses, but 

point out realities and offer 

hope

• Never ignore comments 

about suicide

Report comments about suicide to your friend’s parents, 

therapist, or doctor

Invite your friend out for walks, outings, and other 

activities—keep trying if your friend declines, but don’t 

push him or her to take on too much too soon

Remind your friend that with time and treatment, the 

depression will lift.

Q What if I or someone I know is 

in crisis?

A If you are thinking about harming yourself or having 

thoughts of suicide, or if you know someone who is, seek 

help right away.

Call your doctor or mental health care provider

Call 911 or go to a hospital emergency room to get immediate help, or ask a friend or family member to help you do 

these things

Call your campus suicide or crisis hotline

Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s toll-free, 

24-hour hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)

or TTY: 1-800-799-4TTY (1-800-799-4889) to talk to a 

trained counselor

If you are in crisis, make sure you are not left alone

If someone else is in crisis, make sure he or she is not left 

alone.

Q What efforts are underway to 

help high school students who 

have depression?

A Researchers continue to study new ways to diagnose and 

treat depression in high school age students. Some scientists 

are also looking into different ways to classify symptoms, 

which may provide news clues about how the disorder develops and which treatments are most effective. Increasing the 

early detection and treatment of depression can help more 

students succeed academically and achieve their goals in 

school and after graduation.

You can find more information about the causes, diagnosis, 

and treatment of depression, including research related to 

adolescents and young adults, on the National Institute of 

Mental Health (NIMH) website.

information about Depression: http://www.nimh. 

nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml
You can also connect with NIMH through social media:

• NIMH Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/nimhgov

• NIMH Twitter: http://twitter.com/nimhgov

• NIMH YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/nimhgov

Reference

1. March J, Silva S, Petrycki S, Curry J, Wells K, Fairbank J, 

Burns B, Domino M, McNulty S, Vitiello B, Severe J. Treatment 

for Adolescents with Depression Study (TADS) team. 

Fluoxetine, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and their combination for adolescents with depression: Treatment for 

Adolescents with Depression Study (TADS) randomized 

controlled trial. Journal of the American Medical Association, 

2004; 292(7): 807–820.

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For more information on depression

Visit the National Library of Medicine’s 

MedlinePlus http://medlineplus.gov

En Español http://medlineplus.gov/spanish

For information on clinical trials 

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/trials/index.shtml

National Library of Medicine clinical trials database 

http://www.clinicaltrials.gov

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Resource Center at the numbers listed below.

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