Signs of Depression in Teens and Young Adults And How INR Can Help
Why Recognizing Depression Matters
Depression often begins in adolescence or young adulthood and is more than occasional sadness.
When depression goes unrecognized or untreated, it can affect every aspect of life, including academic performance, relationships, physical health, and even increase the risk of substance use.
Therefore, early recognition is crucial. Identifying emotional symptoms, as well as behavioral, physical, and cognitive signs of depression can make a significant difference when it comes to getting your teen or young adult the help they need. Understanding and acknowledging depression is not only the first step toward recovery, but it can also be an empowering move to help challenge the stigma against mental health.
This blog will explore common warning signs of depression, why depression may go unnoticed, practical steps for support, and how Insight Northwest Recovery (INR) can provide depression treatment and teen mental health help in Oregon with our mental health programs for ages 12+ in Eugene, Salem, or statewide via telehealth.
What Depression Looks Like in Teens and Young Adults
Depression may present differently in teens and young adults. While depression in teens and young adults can manifest in multiple ways, recognizing these signs of depression in teens and young adults early is crucial for helping any child struggling with their mental health.
Emotional symptoms
Emotional symptoms of depression may include persistent sadness, irritability, numbness, or feelings of hopelessness, and these feelings often last for weeks or months, interfering with daily life.
Behavioral signs
Changes in behavior like withdrawal from friends and family, loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities, and decline in academic performance often point to depression.
Physical signs
Besides emotional symptoms and behavioral changes, teens and young adults may also exhibit physical signs of depression. These often include changes in sleep patterns, fluctuations in appetite, fatigue, or chronic physical pain.
Cognitive signs
Teens and young adults may also show cognitive signs related to depression. These signs usually involve difficulty concentrating, making decisions, or remembering details. Additionally, teens and young adults may experience self-criticism and negative thought patterns, including feelings of worthlessness.
Awareness of these symptoms and signs can open the door for early intervention, allowing teens and young adults to access the care they need and receive timely support.
The Link Between Depression and Substance Use
Depression is one of the most common co-occurring mental health conditions among teens and young adults struggling with substance use. Often, the feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or numbness associated with depression can lead young people to self-medicate, turning to alcohol, drugs, or other substances in an attempt to escape.
In fact, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), “Roughly 60% of adolescents in addiction treatment also have a diagnosable mood disorder” (2023).
Unfortunately, using substances in this way often exacerbates both conditions.
Substance use can deepen symptoms of depression, making it even more difficult for teens and young adults to maintain healthy relationships, academic performance, and overall well-being. Without treating depression, recovery from substance use is often unstable and prone to relapse.
At INR, we provide integrated treatment that simultaneously targets both depression and substance use.
In traditional care models, mental health and addiction services are treated separately, sometimes by different providers with little communication between them. This can create gaps in care, leaving underlying issues unaddressed and increasing the risk of relapse. Integrated treatment, on the other hand, addresses both conditions at the same time, often with the same coordinated care team.
By treating these depression and substance use together, INR helps youth build a more stable foundation for long-term recovery, improved mental health, and overall resilience.
Recognizing the correlation between teen depression and substance use, as well as the signs of this co-occurring disorder, can help young adults with depression and anxiety get the right treatment.
Why Depression Often Goes Unnoticed
Depression in teens and young adults often goes unrecognized because its symptoms can look like “normal” teenage adolescent moodiness or stress. Understandably, it can be difficult to tell if your teen is depressed. Emotional fluctuations, irritability, or withdrawal may seem like a normal part of growing up, rather than indicators of a deeper mental health concern. However, if these symptoms persist, it may signal your teen or young adult is struggling with depression.
Oftentimes, the stigma around mental health can also prevent teens and young adults from speaking up. Teens may fear being judged, misunderstood, or labeled, which leads them to internalize feelings rather than seeking help.
Parents or caregivers may also misinterpret depressive behaviors as signs of “typical” teenage behavior. For example, they may view some depression symptoms as laziness or rebellion, instead of recognizing a mental health issue that requires attention.
Educators may also overlook subtle signs due to their focus on academics. A drop in grades, truancy, or disengagement in class can be attributed to a lack of effort or interest—meaning they are not seeing the potential role of depression.
It’s time to make the unnoticed noticed. Noticing the symptoms and signs of depression can be a turning point for a teen or young adult who is struggling. It’s a critical step in early intervention,
“Your teen’s shift in behavior may be their way of saying they’re overwhelmed. Trust your instincts if something feels off.”
When to Seek Professional Help
Recognizing when to seek professional help for depression is crucial, especially in teens and young adults.
While depression may manifest differently in each teen or young adult, certain warning signs should never be ignored:
Isolation
Decline in school/work performance
Talk of worthlessness
Self-harm behaviors or suicidal thoughts
If these symptoms persist for more than two weeks or begin to interfere with daily functioning, it’s important to reach out for support and seek help. Importantly, early intervention increases the likelihood of effective treatment and can prevent worsening mental health decline or substance use.
At INR, we provide comprehensive assessments and consultations for mental health concerns, including co-occurring disorders like depression and substance use.
Our team evaluates each individual holistically, ensuring that both emotional and behavioral needs are addressed. Through evidence-based treatment plans, therapy, and support systems, INR helps teens and young adults navigate these challenges safely and begin a path toward recovery.
Even before moments of crisis, seeking professional help is a proactive step, not a sign of weakness.
How INR Treats Depression in Teens and Young Adults
The overwhelming sense of sadness or hopelessness with depression can affect every aspect of your teen or young adult’s day-to-day life and can feel like a path forward is nearly impossible. At INR, we want you to know that you are not alone, your life is valuable and we are here to help.
We provide specialized care for teens and young adults ages 12 and up, focusing on a mental health-first approach that prioritizes emotional well-being alongside daily functioning and resilience. Our programs are designed to ensure that treatment is both effective and supportive.
INR offers multiple levels of care to suit different needs:
PHP (Partial Hospitalization Program) offers our clients participation in a daily structured program that combines individual therapy, group therapy and education, and activity-based therapies. It is ideal for those who need more support than traditional outpatient therapy but don’t require 24/7 inpatient care.
IOP (Intensive Outpatient Program) is our mental health treatment program that provides a structured and supportive environment that is less intensive than inpatient treatment programs, or Day Treatment, but more comprehensive than traditional outpatient therapy.
Outpatient therapy (in-person or virtual) offers flexibility while maintaining consistency in treatment.
Each level of care includes evidence-based therapy, individualized treatment planning, and access to trained mental health professionals who understand the unique challenges teens and young adults face.
Regardless of the path your teen or young adult takes toward recovery, INR’s programs include multiple treatment components:
✔️ Group therapy
✔️ Supplemental Individual therapy (CBT, DBT)
✔️ Family therapy
✔️ Medication management
✔️ Skill-building (emotional regulation, communication, boundaries)
Why Families in Eugene, Salem, and Across Oregon Choose INR
Families looking for the best treatment in Eugene and Salem, Oregon trust INR for compassionate, specialized care for adolescents and young adults facing depression and co-occurring disorders.
With locations in Eugene and Salem and virtual access to care statewide, we provide convenient options that fit into busy schedules while ensuring teens and young adults receive the care they need.
INR is designed to be a safe, serene, calming environment where young people feel supported rather than judged. Our approach reduces shame and stigma, encouraging open communication and engagement in the recovery process. Since we specialize in treating adolescents and young adults, our programs are tailored to meet the unique needs of each patient, with flexibility to provide mental health support for students by accommodating school-year obligations.
By combining expert mental health care with individualized treatment planning, INR helps families feel confident that their loved ones are receiving comprehensive, age-appropriate support.
Struggling with depression?
INR offers compassionate, expert care. Schedule a free consultation today.