Teen depression tends to come and go in episodes. Once a teenager has one bout of depression, he or she is likely to get depressed again at some point. The consequence of letting teen depression go untreated can be extremely serious, even deadly.

If you think your child is in immediate danger, call for help and get your child to a safe place and stay there. This may be the home of a close friend or family member or a domestic violence shelter. Call a trusted health professional, a child abuse organization, or the police to find help in your area.

If you are worried about the way someone acts around your child, find a quiet time to talk with the person alone. Help the person learn about child development issues. If it is your partner, you could take a parenting class together. Plan what you will do next if your concerns become more serious. Then follow through with your plan.