What Professionals Can Determine Whether a Teen is Depressed?

There are many mental health professionals - psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, nurse practitioners, social workers, child and youth workers, child care workers, child care associates, counselors, and others - who work with depressed teens. It is sometimes overwhelming to know who to seek help from!

First, we advise you to rule out any medical conditions that may be causing the depression. It is also important to clarify from the outset whether your teen is experi­encing a clinical depression. In order to get a diagnosis for your teen and rule out medical factors that may be contributing to the depressed mood, it is necessary to see a child and adolescent psychiatrist. The psychiatrist is a medical doctor who will rule out medical conditions by conducting a simple physical exam and order blood tests, if indicated. He or she also has the qualifications to prescribe and monitor medications if this becomes a recommended part of treatment for your child.

If a medical doctor has already ruled out physical conditions and you want a mental health diagnosis, you could consult a registered child psychologist instead of a psychiatrist. A psychologist cannot prescribe medications in most states or Canada but can assess, diagnose, and treat the teen for depression.

Other mental health professionals listed may conduct clinical assessments using validated questionnaires to help guide their assessments. They use knowledge of biological, psychological, and social factors in working with teens and their parents. However, they do not provide a formal diagnosis. They may, however, treat a child who has already been diagnosed.

If your child will need ongoing treatment, we recommend finding a mental health professional (like those listed above) who:

• specializes in child and family mental health,

• is qualified to provide cognitive-behavioral therapy

• is someone your teen will feel comfortable with and can relate to,

• is flexible, and

• is able to see your teen as an individual.



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