Last week, in The Netherlands it was announced that more research will be done to investigate depression in teenagers and young women. They are at special risk. One of five adolescents suffers from depression. Some young people suffer already at the age of 15 from their first depression. How can we recognize symptoms? And what can be done?

Checklist symptoms:

-being almost every day and throughout the day in a gloomy mood or irritated: feel often sad, bleak, empty, hopeless, alone and down

-little Interested in doing nice things and when doing something nice unable to enjoy

-loss of appetite or overeating

-physical complaints that have no obvious cause

-Slepelessness, poor sleep or sleep much

-almost daily extremely restless

-often very tired and slow in everything

-almost daily experience of fatigue or lack of energy

-almost every day suffer from a feeling of worthlessness or guilt

-difficulty to concentrate, think and make decisions

-often thoughts of death and suicide

If someone has a short period of one or two of these signals than a person temporarily is less happy and has a dip. When these signals persist over a long time or someone has five or more of these signals, then the risk of depression is high. In that case contact your GP. It is also important to talk about it with someone you can trust. At school and at work, there are special counselors. You can also find a private counselling practice.