Treating the Symptoms of Depression

St. Louis Behavioral Medicine Institute understands that it can be difficult to reach out for help, especially when you are depressed. Depression is a serious medical illness that’s more than just a feeling of being “down in the dumps” or “blue” for a few days; the feelings are not temporary, and do not just go away. There are a variety of causes of depression, including genetic, environmental, psychological and biochemical factors.

Symptoms may include:

  • Loss of interest in activities
  • Change in weight
  • Difficulty sleeping or oversleeping
  • Energy loss
  • Feelings of worthlessness
  • Thoughts of death or suicide

While the symptoms of depression overlap across age groups, the developmental stage in life does affect how depression will look at different ages. Younger children may be more irritable and or exhibit large swings in emotions, and adolescents are especially more likely to experience suicidal thoughts. Depressed boys, especially during adolescence, can become aggressive during episodes of depression. 

Major life events like depression, death of a family member or major health problems can trigger depressive episodes at any age, but recent research suggests that frequently occurring, relatively minor difficulties that may seem small to adults can seriously undermine a child’s sense of well-being. This is why early detection and treatment are so important in fighting depression.

Treatment Options for Depression

Depression at any age is a very treatable condition. Cognitive-behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy have been extensively studied and found to be effective in treating depression, and individual psychotherapy with parental involvement has been found to be helpful for children and teens. It is strongly recommended that parents be involved in the treatment of depressed children and teens, although the therapist is likely to spend much of the therapeutic time talking with the child alone. In addition, there are a variety of antidepressants that are available. While medication may be recommended as a part of an overall plan, treatment would also include individual and/or family therapy.

For more information on depression treatment therapy or to schedule an appointment at St. Louis Behavioral Medicine Institute, please reach out to our intake department.

Additional Resources

Depression, from the National Institutes of Mental Health
Depression, from the National Alliance on Mental Illness
Understanding Depression, from KidsHealth.org

We’re Only a Phone Call Away

If you would rather reach our Intake Coordinators by phone, please call 314-289-9411 to discuss appointment scheduling if you or a loved one may be experiencing a mental health issue. For additional questions about our programs, you can also use our online contact form.

In the case of a medical emergency or crisis, please dial 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

Help and hope are closer than you think.

Personalized mental health treatment is ready for you. We are here to help.

Contact Us

New patients please call Intake Coordinators at:

City of St. Louis, Missouri (Macklind)

1129 Macklind Ave,
St. Louis, MO 63110
314-534-0200 (returning patients)

Chesterfield, Missouri (West County)

16216 Baxter Rd. Stes 205 and 225,
Chesterfield, MO 63017
636-532-9188 (returning patients)

Fairview Heights, Illinois

331 Salem Place, Suite 225-A,
Fairview Heights, IL 62208
618-825-0051 (returning patients)