Symptoms can be missed if you don't know what to look for. Well meaning parents or teachers may think that a young person is unhappy or moody because it's a natural part of being young. Persistent unhappiness or moodiness is not normal for anyone. Here's how to tell if you or a friend might be depressed. You should get evaluated by a professional if you've had five or more of the following symptoms for more than two weeks or if any of these symptoms cause such a big change that you can't keep up your usual routine.
Life seems meaningless or like nothing good is ever going to happen again.
It's hard to make up your mind. You forget lots of things, and it's hard to concentrate. You get irritated often. You think about death, or feel like you're dying, or have thoughts about committing suicide. You're a non-stop party, constantly running around.