Why is it so difficult to talk to your parents or others about depression?

There are a number of reasons why you might be reluctant to talk about your mental health:

• Fear of being judged
• Fear of being seen as weak or unable to deal with your problems
• Difficulty talking about your emotions
• Bad experiences in the past
• Fear of worrying or disappointing those around you
• Fear that everyone at school will know
• Believing it will pass over time
• Thinking that nothing will change
• Fear of the unknown (what will happen when we talk about it, or afterward)
• Worrying that you might be diagnosed with something
• Concerns about treatment if you are
• Worrying that you’ll need to take antidepressants

How can you start talking?

As you now know, it’s very important to talk to people you trust when you need help figuring out how to deal with depression: for instance, your parents or your best friend. Depression is an illness that is difficult to cure if you’re all alone as a teenager. But remember: 👉 it’s NEVER too late.

Take your time, but take a chance! When you’re ready to talk, you can:

• Tell someone, clearly 🎤, directly and out loud, that things aren’t going well (you’ll be surprised at the reaction!)
• 🖍 Write a letter or a text or email instead of speaking out loud (this gives you a chance to organize your thoughts)
• Discuss your problem while you’re doing something else (🏒 playing a sport, 🥯 having a meal, 🎮 playing video games, etc.)