Navigating Teenage Depression

Gordon Parker is Scientia Professor of Psychiatry at the University of New South Wales and Executive Director of the Black Dog Institute, Sydney, Australia. He is a renowned researcher with over 30 years’ experience with mood disorders. Kerrie Eyers is a psychologist, teacher and editor with many years’ experience in mental health, based at the Black Dog Institute, Sydney, Australia.

"If you suspect your teenager is depressed, read this book. It contains the distilled wisdom of Professor Gordon Parker and Kerrie Eyers, who have been successfully helping young people overcome depression at their Black Dog Institute in Australia for many years. This book is a ray of light that shows the way out of a dark place." - Alan Carr, Professor of Clinical Psychology, University College Dublin, Ireland"A 'must' read for parents and for professionals." - Professor Sir Michael Rutter, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK"This book will prove a valuable source of information and guidance for parents concerned about their teenager's mood... Written by experts in the field of depression, it is easy to read and jargon free, with contributions from young people themselves providing personal insights into their experiences." - Youthinmind.co.uk, June 2010"If you are a teenager or the parent of a teenager trying to find a way through depression then this book is worth a look." – Laura Lea, Mental Health Today, March 2011

• Preface. Navigating the Maze: Three Stories of Teenage Depression. Background Stresses: Teenagers Shoulder Some Heavy Baggage. What Depression Feels Like: Young People Describe its Effects. Getting to Assessment: Some Ways to Overcome Teenage Reluctance. Making the Diagnosis: Guidelines for a Systematic Approach. The Assessment Report: And How Teenagers Adjust to the Diagnosis. A Quick Look at Treatment and Management: And the Impact of Personality Style. Maintaining Good Mental Health: Tips from Teens and Their Supporters. Appendix I: Examining the Use and Effectiveness of Antidepressants in Teens. Appendix II: Assessing the Risk of Harm in Teenagers with Depression. Appendix III: Teenagers Share their Most Effective Wellbeing Strategies. Appendix IV: The Mood Assessment Program (MAP).