Normal adolescent behavior is full of mood changes.
When a teenagers have good experiences they feel that everything is great.
But just one episode of indifference or rejection shown by a friend, especially one of the opposite sex, makes teenagers feel as if the world is falling apart around them.
Parents usually just shrug off such depressive episodes because to label it as clinical depression seems to serious a condition to be used in the context of the young.
However, it is a fact that childhood depression does exist and the statistics indicate the makings of a nationwide phenomenon, with the figures forever going upwards.
Teenagers with depression is often labeled with other conditions like conduct, mood disorders and anxiety.
   But which is more frightening, teenagers tend to hide these episodes from their parents/carers and can resort to alcohol or even to self medicate with drugs.
This makes it even more difficult to actually diagnose the condition.
Teenagers who have low self esteem, are excessively self-critical or who have experienced episodes in their lives that they are unable to come to terms with, are unfortunately, at a higher risk of developing depression.
Teenage girls are more prone to developing depression than boys, so they are at a higher risk.
Clinical depression is described as a continuous state of low mood which is characterized by a sense of inadequacy.
It has also been proven that a despondent lack of activity can last for at least three months.
Depression can be caused by many things, including hereditary or physical abnormalities within the brain.
Specialists have decided that it is caused by conflict - but a conflict that goes on within their mind.
  Ignoring the possible genetics and abnormalities of the brain itself, some other causes of teenage depression are:

• Dysfunctional Family - This is one of the most common causes behind childhood depression.
  Because the parents fail to realize (or ignore) the affect that their own behavior has on the mind of their children.
  It have been proven that parents find it easy enough to label the child as a patient but they are can be extremely defensive about accepting the fact that they, themselves, may have caused it.
  Family dysfunction includes aspects of bad communication or conflicts between the parents or even between the parents and the child.
  
• School  - School has long ceased to be an enjoyable experience.
    Now that competition seems more important that learning, children are more prone to develop depression.
  
• Unrealistic Expectations - Even though they mean well, parents may push their children over the edge when trying to extend their child's intellectual limitations.
    Unrealistic expectations being placed on a child can do much more harm than good.
  
• Trauma - Death, or any other traumatic episode exposes teenagers to a greater risk of depression.
  
• Emotional Detachment - We all know that the adolescent mind is a highly emotional one and there is no guarantee how a teenager will view his or her inabilities.
  The inability to interact with others and a fear of building new relationships can be the cause behind many teenage depressions.
  
• Depression is very difficult to diagnose.
  Because of the teenage psyche, it is made even more difficult to identify.
  Parents should make sure they are well informed, and able to spot any signs of depression.