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Depression in Teens Warning Signs PHQ A Scores and Safety Planning

  • Writer: Scarlet Plus LLC
    Scarlet Plus LLC
  • Dec 28, 2025
  • 4 min read

Being a teenager is tough. Between school pressure and social changes it is normal for teens to feel moody or stressed sometimes. But when a low mood lasts for weeks and stops a teen from enjoying life it might be something more serious. Depression in teens is a real medical condition that affects how they think and feel. It is not a sign of weakness and it is not something they can just snap out of on their own.


At Caritas Behavioral Health Services we understand how scary this can be for parents. You want to help your child but might not know where to start. This guide will help you spot the warning signs and understand the tools professionals use like the PHQ A score. We also discuss how to create a safety plan to keep your teen safe.


A therapist discusses depression warning signs with concerned parents and a teenager during a counseling session at home.
A therapist discusses depression warning signs with concerned parents and a teenager during a counseling session at home.

Recognizing Depression in Teens

Depression often looks different in teenagers than it does in adults. While adults might look sad or cry often a depressed teen might act irritable or angry instead. You might notice they get annoyed easily or lash out at small things.


Watch for these common changes in behavior.

  • Pulling away from friends and family

  • Spending a lot of time alone in their room

  • Grades dropping suddenly at school

  • Sleeping too much or having trouble sleeping

  • Eating much more or much less than usual

  • Complaining of headaches or stomachaches that have no medical cause

  • Using alcohol or drugs to cope

  • Talking about death or dying


If you see these signs last for more than two weeks it is time to seek professional help. Early support makes a big difference in recovery.


Understanding the PHQ A Score

When you seek help for depression in children or teenagers doctors often use a tool called the PHQ A. This stands for the Patient Health Questionnaire for Adolescents. It is a simple set of questions that helps clinicians measure the severity of depression symptoms.


The teen answers questions about their mood over the past two weeks. Each answer gets a number and the total score tells us how severe the depression might be.


Here is a simple breakdown of what the scores usually mean.

  • 0 to 4 suggests none or minimal depression

  • 5 to 9 suggests mild depression

  • 10 to 14 suggests moderate depression

  • 15 to 19 suggests moderately severe depression

  • 20 to 27 suggests severe depression


We use this score to guide our treatment plan. For example a lower score might mean we start with therapy and monitoring. A higher score might suggest the need for more intensive treatment or medication. We offer telehealth evaluations across Maryland to help you get these answers quickly from the comfort of your home.


Coaching Parents on Safety Planning

If your teen is struggling with depression a safety plan is one of the most important tools you can have. A safety plan is not a contract. It is a practical guide written down to help your teen get through moments of crisis.


Identify Warning Signs Work with your teen to list the thoughts or feelings that happen right before a crisis. This helps them know when to use the plan.


List Coping Strategies Write down simple things they can do on their own to lower stress. This might be listening to music or taking a hot shower or drawing.


Make the Environment Safe This is a critical step for parents. If your teen is depressed you must remove or lock up anything they could use to hurt themselves. This includes sharp objects and medications and firearms. Making the home safe buys time for the impulse to pass.


Know Who to Call The plan should list people they can call for distraction and people they can call for help. Keep the number for Caritas Behavioral Health Services and the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline on the list.


Treatment Options in Columbia MD

You do not have to face this alone. At Caritas Behavioral Health Services we specialize in helping families navigate these challenges. We provide comprehensive care tailored to the unique needs of teenagers.


We offer telehealth services throughout Maryland for initial evaluations and therapy sessions. This makes it easy to fit appointments into a busy school schedule.


For those who need more direct care we offer in person treatments at our clinic in Columbia MD. Our team creates a welcoming space where teens feel safe to open up and heal. We treat various conditions including depression and depression and mood disorders.


If standard treatments have not worked in the past we also have expertise in treatment resistant depression. We look at the whole picture to find the right path forward. We also screen for other conditions that can look like depression such as bipolar disorder to ensure the diagnosis is accurate.


Take the Next Step

Depression is treatable and your teen can feel better. If you are worried about your child reach out to us today. Whether you are in Columbia MD or anywhere in Maryland our team is here to support you.


Visit our website to schedule an evaluation or learn more about our services. Let us help you bring the light back into your teen’s life.


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