By Doreen Nagle
Gannett News Service

Mental health is a vitally important part of your child's life. Without it, he will not be resilient when disappointment - or worse - strikes, as it does in every life. Get to know the signs of clinical depression so you can help your teen back to feeling good about himself.

Symptoms

• Has your teen had a change in appetite or behavior that has lasted for more than just a few days? Has she stopped seeing friends she couldn't "live without" a few weeks ago? Is she sleeping more? Less? Given up on grooming? Isolating?

• Is he feeling "less than," worthless, guilty, unlikable or other self-loathing emotions? Is he irritable and not in his usual joking mood?

• Is there a family history of depression?

• Has there been a major change in your child's life?

Fixes

• Listen to teens even if you don't like what they have to say. Your teen needs to be heard. Don't prejudge by thinking, "She's just a kid, what could she know?"

• Don't demand that your teen "snap out of it." If emotional problems were that easily fixed, your teen would gladly oblige. Ask gentle, inquiring questions: "Did the test you took turn out the way you had hoped?"

• Don't compare. "Why can't you go to the movies with your friends instead of sitting here feeling sorry for yourself?" If he felt he could, he would. More helpful would be to talk together over an ice cream sundae or a short walk.

• Taking on the problem for your child will make her reticent to tell you more. If she is feeling rejected by the "cool" girls, help direct her to activities where she will feel more welcomed.

• Seek professional help, and remember prescription drugs may be only a part of the solution. Talk therapy with a licensed professional can be exceptionally helpful.

• Are you susceptible to depressive thinking? How you see things influences your child's perspective more than you may realize. Change your negative thinking, and you'll change not only your life for the better, but also the life of your child.