Dealing with short term depression can mean confronting the source of the problem or avoiding it if this is possible. Most problems cannot be avoided, but temporarily getting away from a situation can give you new perspective. Physical exercise or mental absorption in something else can help relax your body and clear your mind. It is important to try and realize what is causing the depression. When a specific cause is found fixing the problem is much easier.
Depression sometimes stems from a teen's extreme negative view of the world.
Learning to enjoy life and not see things quite so bleakly can help. Long term depression can be much harder to control because it seems to take up more of the person's life and crowds out other enjoyable activities. Talking about the problems can help a great deal. If friends or family don't seem to be available to talk, contact a teacher or teen counselor in your area. Remember, being depressed occasionally is not uncommon, and it can be dealt with.