What to Do When Your Son Tells You He’s Depressed | Psychology Today

“Mom, I’m depressed.” No parent wants to hear those three words. And if they do, they may be caught off guard. Parents of teenagers I have worked with, especially parents of teenage boys, have often remarked that they did not know anything was wrong. While rates of depression are higher in teenage girls than in teenage boys, there tends to be more focus on talking with girls, which can help parents recognize early signs of depression. Boys, however, may be less likely to talk about their feelings, so when they do, it can be scary and surprising for parents. How you respond, as a parent, can help alleviate some of the fear that your son may have about opening up. As a psychologist and a mom of teenage boys, here are five suggestions for parents who learn their son is depressed.

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