Young girl with dark hair looking down with sad expression

How we support young people with depression and low mood

Feeling sad, disappointed or low from time to time is part of life. But when low mood persists and enjoyment starts to disappear or everyday life becomes increasingly difficult – a young person may need more support. We help them understand what they’re going through, make sense of what might be contributing to it, and find ways to reconnect with themselves, other people and everyday life.

At a glance

Feeling sad or low at times is a normal part of life.

Low mood and depression are related, but they aren’t always the same thing.

Depression doesn’t always look like sadness. Young people may become irritable, withdrawn, exhausted or lose interest in things they used to enjoy.

It can affect sleep, appetite, concentration, relationships, school and everyday life.

Therapy can help young people understand what they’re experiencing and can work alongside medication or other support if needed.

Questions parents and carers often ask

Is my child depressed, or are they going through a difficult time?

Why have they lost interest in things they used to enjoy?

Why are they spending so much time in their bedroom?

They seem angry rather than sad. Could they still be depressed?

Why are they tired all the time?

Can therapy help if they’re already taking medication?

Girl-reading-holding-open-journal-in-bed

A closer look at depression

Depression is more than simply feeling sad. For some young people, it may feel like a persistent low mood or hopelessness. Others feel numb, disconnected or as though they’ve stopped caring about things that once mattered to them. It can affect different parts of life:

Emotional changes | Persistent low mood, hopelessness, numbness, irritability, anxiety, guilt or becoming self-critical.
Behavioural changes | Withdrawing from friends and family, losing interest in activities, staying in their room or finding it difficult to engage with school or everyday life.
Physical and thinking changes | Changes in sleep or appetite, low energy, difficulty concentrating or feeling exhausted even after resting.

Sometimes depression follows a difficult experience such as bereavement, bullying, relationship problems, illness or a major change. Or it can develop more gradually, without one obvious reason.

Whether someone’s going through a difficult period of low mood or living with a clinically recognised depressive disorder, their experiences deserve compassion rather than judgement. And understanding how life feels for that particular young person is an important part of working out what may help.

Thinking about therapy?

You don’t need to have everything figured out before getting in touch.

Get in touch

How Teenage Mental Health approaches depression

Young people can experience depression in very different ways, so we take the time to understand what’s changed, how they’re experiencing life and what may be contributing to the way they feel.

We won’t tell them to simply think positively or ‘cheer up’. We give young people a safe, independent place to talk about things that may feel difficult to explain elsewhere and start making sense of what they’re going through.

We may help them to:

understand experiences, relationships or patterns that may be affecting their mood
put difficult or confusing feelings into words
recognise when they’re becoming particularly self-critical or hopeless
reconnect with relationships, interests and activities that matter to them
find ways to manage school, relationships and everyday life when things feel difficult
think about routines, rest, activity and other parts of everyday life that may help them cope better

Young-male-looking-out-at-dreary-sea-with-red-top

Some young people come to therapy while taking medication or receiving support from other professionals. We don’t advise on medication, but therapy can work alongside this care.

It can also be difficult for parents and carers to know how to help. You may find yourself encouraging, reassuring or trying to motivate your child while becoming increasingly worried or frustrated yourself. Where appropriate, we can help parents and carers understand what their child may be experiencing and think about how best to support them.

Ultimately, the aim is to help them better understand what they’re experiencing and gradually feel more connected to themselves, other people and everyday life.

When extra support may be needed

Get help with support

It may be helpful to seek professional support if your child’s depression means they:

have persistent low mood or irritability that isn’t improving
lose interest in things they previously enjoyed
become increasingly withdrawn or isolated
experience significant changes in sleep, appetite, energy or concentration
struggle to attend school or manage everyday activities
become increasingly self-critical, hopeless or talk about feeling worthless
self-harm, develop other worrying ways of coping or have suicidal thoughts

If you’re concerned about suicidal thoughts or believe a young person may be at immediate risk of harming themselves, seek urgent medical or emergency support.

Get help with support

Related Guides

Practical help

Our guides are full of information on what may be troubling your child, along with advice on how to better support them.

View all

Group pointing at child in middle of circle in playground with orange asphalt shot from above

Bullying Identity and relationships School and daily life

Bullying and teen mental health

How bullying can deeply affect a young person’s wellbeing, identity and sense of safety – and what adults can do to respond with steadiness, support and accountability

Fiona Hannah

21 Aug 2026 • 10 min read

Two girls sitting next to each other reading books with two other friends in the foreground blurred out of the shit

Identity and relationships School and daily life

Teen friendships and peer relationships

Why friendships matter so much in adolescence, what healthy relationships look like, and when they may be taking a toll

Fiona Hannah

21 Aug 2026 • 6 min read

Parental guidance

Adolescent rebellion

Why your teenager may seem more argumentative, distant or defiant  – and how to respond without turning every clash into a battle.

Dylan Pomietlo

15 Jul 2026 • 7 min read

teen on BMX bike wearing hoodie in skatepark

Parental guidance School and daily life

Boundaries and rules through childhood and adolescence

Why children still need limits, even as they grow more independent

Dylan Pomietlo

21 Aug 2026 • 7 min read

View all

Book online

Book an online appointment today

If your an existing patient you can book through our online system for faster, more convinient appointments. Simply login via your email, choose your therapist and select a date/time that works for you.

Book an online session