All mental illnesses are important and valid, but depression is one of those ones that needs to be caught early before it escalates to self-harm

or suicide. Signs of depression can differ from individual to individual, and especially from teens to adults. To help you catch this, here is a list of

signs in depression in teenagers. If you see signs of depression or someone in crisis, please tell a trusted adult, or call 211 or 911.

Signs of depression:

• More irritability and defiance

• Increased sensitivity to criticism and avoiding risks

• Won't do activities and hobbies they used to enjoy because they fear risks

• Staying in their room a lot

• Selective social withdrawal. While adults tend to withdraw from everyone equally, teens tend to grow closer to their friends while withdrawing

  from family

• Throwing themselves into work and burying themself in work, since distracting is a common coping mechanism for depression

• Slipping grades

• Having a harder time focusing on anything since depression consumes energy. However, this can be a sign of other mental issues

• Changes in energy (Including becoming more restless or sluggish)

• Changes in daily routines (Sleeping, eating, etc. more or less). Brief changes in sleep such as catching up on sleep are perfectly

  healthy

• Physical pain