The teenage years are a difficult time and you have a lot to deal with physically, mentally and emotionally.
While you may naturally experience highs and lows, for about one in 200 children under the age of 12 and about three in 100 teenagers, this can turn into depression.
As a young person, you are are more vulnerable and sensitive to what is happening to you and less experienced at being able to deal with problems and anxieties.
What causes depression?
Depression can be caused by a mixture of events or personal experiences, such as family breakdown, grief for a loved one, feeling neglected, being abused or bullied and can also be triggered by a physical illness.
Depression can result from too many changes happening at once in your life.
You are more at risk of becoming depressed if you are under a lot of stress, have no one to share your worries with, and lack practical support to help you cope.
Depression may run in families. It is also more common in girls and women than boys.
Depression seems to be linked with chemical changes in the part of brain that controls mood. These changes prevent normal functioning of the brain and cause many of the symptoms of depression.
What are the signs?
While young people can sometimes seem unhappy and quiet, you may feel that this is more than just a phase.
Signs may include:
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Being unable to sleep
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Eating too much or too little
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Mood swings
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Staying in your bedroom all day
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Giving up interests and hobbies
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Crying constantly
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Avoiding friends and family
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Finding it hard to do your schoolwork
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Not caring what you look like
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You may talk about death or have suicidal thoughts.
To escape from your feelings or let them out in the only way you know how, you may start taking drugs or drinking, stop going to school, become violent or carry out crimes such as shoplifting.
If you think you are depressed, try talking to someone about your worries. If you don't think you can talk to your friends or family, there are a number of helplines you can contact.
Advice for parents:
If your teenager is suffering from depression then they need help. Don't ignore their worries and take any talk of suicide seriously.
You need to listen, try to understand what they are going through and get professional help if you need to. Many young people will get better on their own with support and understanding. But if the depression is dragging on and causing serious difficulties, it's important to seek help.