Treatment for Depression and Suicidal Behavior

Psychotherapy or medications might be helpful for helping a suicidal child or adolescent solve problems that are causing them to feel suicidal. A trained professional can assess the situation and make treatment recommendations.

According to Division 53 of the American Psychological Association several specific forms of short-term psychotherapy have been shown to be beneficial in the treatment of depression in children and teens. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is likely to help both children and teenagers. For depressed teenagers, interpersonal therapy (IPT) is a well-established treatment. IPT helps teens understand and address problems in their relationships with family members and friends that contribute to depression. More

Behavioral Interventions and Behavior Therapy
A lot of problems experienced by young people can be helped or treated with behavioral interventions or a relatively quick dose of behavior therapy. Learn more.

Guidelines for Choosing a Behavior Therapist

Drug Therapy

Some medications (specifically, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs) may help relieve youth depressive symptoms, especially for teens. However, little is known about their long-term effects or effectiveness for younger children. More

According to the Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the use of antidepressants seems indicated with children and adolescents who have such severe symptoms that psychotherapy is not effective, who have tried psychotherapy and it has not worked, or who have long-lasting or a recurrent (keeps coming back) form of depression. If your provider determines that medications are necessary to treat your child’s or adolescent’s depression, SSRIs are the initial antidepressants of choice.¹ The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry recommends that psychiatric medications should not be used alone, and should only be one part of a comprehensive treatment plan. More

It is important to consider potential side-effects compared to the benefits of medications. Not all medications work the same for everyone; therefore it is important that you consult with your pediatrician or a child psychiatrist to determine which medication (if any) is best for a child.

Questions to ask your child’s provider about psychiatric medications.

The United States Federal Drug Administration (FDA) directed manufacturers of antidepressants to revise their labeling to include a "black box" warning to alert health-care providers to an increased risk of suicide in children and teens. More

Medication Guide About Using Antidepressants in Children and Teenagers
Provides more information about this warning, and helps parents make an informed decision about the use of antidepressants with their child or adolescent.

The American Psychiatric Association and American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry have produced The Use of Medication in Treating Childhood and Adolescent Depression: Information for Patients and Families. This guide provides a different perspective on the FDA’s "black box" warning, useful information about depression and suicide, and guidelines to help patients and families make informed decisions about obtaining the most appropriate care for a child with depression.

TRICARE Pharmacy Information

Treatment of Children With Mental Disorders
A booklet with answers to frequently asked questions about the treatment of mental disorders in children -- includes a medication chart.

¹American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (1998). Practice parameters for the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with depressive disorders. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 37(10suppl).