Depression in Children and Teens

Several things increase a young person's chance of developing depression. These include:

• Having a parent or immediate family member who is depressed. This is the most important risk factor for depression. Children or teens who have a parent with depression are 3 times more likely to develop depression.
• Having been depressed before, especially if depression first occurred at an early age.
• Having a long-term medical condition such as diabetes or epilepsy.
• Having another mental disorder, such as Reference conduct disorder Opens New Window or an Reference anxiety disorder Opens New Window.
• Having a family member or close friend die.
• Being physically or sexually abused.
• Having problems with Reference alcohol or drug abuse Opens New Window.

Other risk factors for depression include:

• Being a girl in early Reference puberty Opens New Window. Until puberty, boys and girls have an equal risk of developing depression. After puberty and as adults, females are twice as likely as males to become depressed.
• Being exposed to family conflict.
• Not having good social relationships with peers.
• Being a bully or a victim of Reference bullying Opens New Window.^{Reference 4}

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