Recognizing Signs of Depression
in Teens From Military Families

Published: 06/18/2025 | Updated: 12/15/2025

Authored by: Jayme Wium, Writer

Edited by: Emma Loker, BSc, PgDip

It’s undeniable that teens of military parents are resilient. Most of them have dealt with things the average teen will never be exposed to. But even when military life hardens teens, that doesn’t leave them immune to mental health difficulties, especially when they’re faced with such unique emotional hurdles.

Military teens face frequent relocations, long periods of separation from family and friends, and consistent changes. They also have to manage disrupted social and school lives, as well as continual worries about their deployed family member. When all this piles up, stress is expected – of course it is.

Unfortunately, many of the symptoms of teen depression in military families are mistaken for mood swings or “acting out,” which means many teens don’t get the help they need when they need it most. This is why it’s so important for parents and teens to know the signs. When is it normal teen ups and downs, and when is it something more serious, such as depression?

Research tells us that teens from military families have a higher rate of mental health conditions than civilian teens.¹ Similar research also shows that children between six and twelve years of age are more at risk of depression during high deployment periods and that the anxiety and depression may last even after the parent has returned.²

This guide explores the following aspects of teen depression in military families:

The symptoms of teen depression
Possible contributing factors to teen depression
A closer look at depression vs. normal teen mood swings
The treatment options for teen depression
How Mission Prep can help

Symptoms of Teen Depression in Military Families

Emotional withdrawal in teens is often the first of several signs of depression in military youth. That said, teen depression can show up differently for each teen. Some of the common signs noted include:

Becoming distant from family and friends
Irritability
Unusual sleep patterns (insomnia or sleeping too much)
Changes in eating habits
Trouble focusing or slipping grades
Appearing emotionally numb
Complaining of aches and pains (headaches and stomachaches)
Saying things like “I’m a burden” or “I can’t do this”
Talking about dying or disappearing

It’s important to remember that not every symptom is a sign on its own. But when they’re combined and linger for longer than is normal, it’s worth paying attention to.

What Does Emotional Withdrawal in Teens Look Like?

Sometimes, a teen doesn’t shut down all at once. They just start to fade out of the room. One day, they stop volunteering stories after school. Then they start skipping group chats, brushing off plans, or sitting through dinner without saying much at all.

For teens in military families, these shifts can show up after a period of transition – a recent move or a parent’s deployment, or they could appear due to a buildup of too many changes at once.

Emotional withdrawal associated with teen depression in military families may look like:

Less laughter or joking around
Looking blank or tired often
Choosing to be alone instead of being with friends
Ignoring messages and not participating in group chats
Quitting hobbies and showing disinterest in things
Avoiding emotional conversations with vague answers or silence

If any of these forms of disconnection become a pattern, it could be a sign that your teen needs help.

Typical School Struggles and Teen Depression Red Flags

Most teens hit a rough patch at school from time to time. A late assignment, a few bad grades, an off week – these things happen. But when those struggles keep piling up or start looking different, they can point to something deeper.

Military teens face more pressure than most people see. In fact, the 2023 Military Teen Experience Survey mentions that self-harm and suicidal ideation is a reality for many of these teens.³ This makes a lot of sense when you consider that every school move means a reset with a new building, new rules, and new friends to make. They leave behind their friends, their routines, and often the teachers who understood how they learn best. That kind of disruption doesn’t just affect academics – it wears them down emotionally, too.

Here are a few signs that school stress might be a sign of teen depression in military families:

Grades drop and stay low, even with extra help
Assignments go missing, or they stop joining in
They feel sick a lot, especially before school
Their focus is all over the place
They act up more than usual or go quiet
Activities they used to love don’t interest them anymore

When school becomes a place that’s avoided, and assignments slip, this might be a teen’s way of coping with something much heavier.

Depression vs. Normal Teen Mood Swings

Most teens go through emotional ups and downs – it’s part of growing up. Shifts in hormones, changes in social circles, and academic stress can all affect how they feel from day to day, resulting in mood swings. But, these moods typically pass quickly and don’t disrupt daily routines for long.

Unfortunately, sometimes, what’s labeled as mood swings as a result of “teen years” can be a mental health disorder like depression. It’s easy for this to slip under the radar – but it’s worth paying attention to. Research tells us that around two in three teens with depression are not diagnosed by their clinician and don’t receive any treatment.⁴

Depression stays longer and affects more than just a teen’s mood. It can change how a teen thinks, behaves, and handles everyday responsibilities.

Here’s how the two compare:

Duration

Mood swings usually pass within a few days. Depression tends to persist for at least two weeks and may continue or worsen over time if left untreated.

Cause

Mood changes are often linked to a clear situation – like an argument, a tough exam, or a missed event. Depression may surface without a clear trigger and doesn’t always improve when the situation resolves.

Functioning

A teen dealing with regular mood shifts typically still manages to go to school, stays involved in activities, and talks with friends. Military-related depression in adolescents often leads to withdrawal, low energy, and difficulty keeping up with daily tasks.

Emotional Range

Teens with mood swings may feel angry, sad, or irritable, but those feelings usually shift. Depression tends to bring a steady low mood, with fewer moments of relief or joy.

Motivation

Peer isolation and depression usually go hand in hand. Teens may not feel motivated to get involved in activities when they’re constantly losing and making friends. A teen in a low mood might skip one activity but bounce back the next day. A teen with depression may stop participating in multiple areas of life, showing little interest in things they used to enjoy.

If your teen seems emotionally stuck or their mood keeps declining, it’s a good idea to talk with them and consider reaching out for professional support.

Treatment Options for Teen Depression in Military Families

Military teens facing depression benefit from timely, tailored support. At Mission Prep, treatment begins with understanding each teen’s unique experience. Our approach draws from trusted clinical research and focuses on the emotional and social pressures that often affect military-connected youth.

Here are some of the most effective treatment options available:

Individual Therapy

Teens often need a trusted adult to share their feelings with, without fear of judgment. One-on-one therapy is a safe place where teens can learn to develop trust and open up. Individual therapy focuses on teaching teens coping skills. A licensed clinician will use evidence-based therapy tailored to your teen’s needs.

One of the therapies often used is CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy). CBT teaches teens how to recognize negative thought patterns and reframe them. It also assists teens to overcome self-limiting beliefs and better manage stress. The National Institute of Mental Health supports CBT as a first-line treatment for depression.⁵

Peer Support Groups for Teen Depression in Military Families

Military teens often feel isolated during emotional struggles, and support groups can be an antidote for that. Support groups and mentorship programs for depressed military teens are hosted in sessions that are facilitated by trained therapists but can be peer-led. Research shows that the shared live experience of peer workers facilitates teens engaging more in group discussions and providing a sense of belonging whereas the clinician’s involvement provides a sense of safety.⁶

Shared experience can be deeply therapeutic. Research shows that peer support interventions for teens with depression can significantly reduce symptoms and increase treatment engagement.⁷ At Mission Prep, peer groups are a core part of our treatment approach.

EMDR for Trauma-Linked Depression

Unresolved trauma can lead to depression in teens. In certain cases, EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing is a type of therapy for teen depression that can offer relief.

EMDR helps the brain process and reframe distressing memories that may be contributing to chronic low mood. One study shows that EMDR is effective in treating adolescents with major depressive disorder and that 60% no longer fulfill the major depressive disorder diagnosis after six sessions.⁸ Mission Prep offers trauma-informed EMDR therapy when appropriate.

School-Based Mental Health Assessments

Identifying depression early can prevent it from interfering with a teen’s academic, social, and emotional growth. That’s why Mission Prep integrates school-based screenings and assessments into our broader care plans.

These tools help determine whether a teen’s mood, energy levels, or motivation are affecting their ability to function, and they guide the best next steps for care.

If a teen is showing signs of emotional withdrawal or persistent sadness, treatment can start with a simple evaluation. With the right support system in place, teens can get therapy for teen depression and get back on track.

Antidepressants for Teens at Mission Prep

In some cases, therapy alone may not be enough. When depression is moderate to severe, or when symptoms don’t improve with traditional therapy, a psychiatric evaluation may lead to a recommendation for antidepressant medication.

At Mission Prep, this decision is made carefully and always involves the teen, their family, and our licensed prescribers. We only use medications that are well-researched and considered safe for adolescents.

Here’s how we approach medication options:

SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors)

SSRIs are usually the starting point for treating teen depression in military families and non-military families.⁹ These medications help balance serotonin, and they’re often well-tolerated by teens. You’re likely familiar with names like:

SNRIs (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors)

If SSRI results aren’t strong enough or come with side effects, we may look at SNRIs. These work on both serotonin and norepinephrine – brain chemicals tied to mood and energy. Mission Prep uses medications like:

TCAs (tricyclic anti-depressants)

Older options like TCAs are still valuable in some cases, especially when energy, sleep, or pain symptoms are significant. These are less common due to possible side effects. One example is Pamelor (nortriptyline).

Other Medications for Mental Health Difficulties in Military Youth

Then there’s Wellbutrin (bupropion), a different kind of antidepressant. It doesn’t act like SSRIs or SNRIs; instead, it helps with motivation, focus, and energy, which is ideal when teens feel emotionally flat or sluggish.

Once a teen begins, we watch carefully – checking mood, sleep, appetite, emotional flow, side effects, and school performance. If medication suits them, it can create a foundation where therapy and daily life become easier.

If it isn’t working, or if side effects are tough, changes can be made. Teens will never feel alone in this process. Mission Prep’s clinicians walk every step of this journey with the family.

Talking to Teens About Depression

Sometimes getting help for depressed military teens starts with a simple conversation at home. Approaching conversations about depression with your teen can feel daunting, but here are a few tips to help with the process:

Choose A Calm Moment: When you’re both relaxed – like during a quiet evening or a weekend drive – mention something you’ve noticed, such as, “You’ve seemed quieter lately,” and keep your tone supportive rather than accusatory.

Ask Gentle, Open-Ended Questions: Try asking questions like, “What’s been on your mind lately?” rather than “What’s wrong with you?” This approach gives them space to share without feeling cornered.

Listen More Than You Speak: Let them voice their thoughts fully, even when it’s tough. Research shows that poor parent-adolescent communication is associated with higher rates of depression in teens. The associated meta-analysis found that negative parental behaviors like criticism and low warmth are consistently linked to higher levels of depression and anxiety in adolescents. Meanwhile, positive communication and emotional support serve as protective factors.¹⁰

Validate, Don’t Minimize: Saying things like, “That sounds really hard,” acknowledges their feelings as real. Avoid statements like, “It’ll get better if you just try harder,” which can make teens feel misunderstood.

Normalize Professional Help: Share that talking to a mental health professional isn’t about weakness – it’s a smart step toward feeling better. One study found that when parents recognize and discuss depression openly, teens are more likely to seek help and follow through with treatment.¹¹

Follow-up: A single conversation won’t fix everything. Check back in a few days or a week. Show your ongoing support by keeping the door open.

Reach Out to Mission Prep to Chat About Treatment Options for Teen Depression

If you’re noticing signs of depression in military youth, early support can make a difference. You don’t need a diagnosis to ask for help.

Mission Prep provides mental health care for teens in military families. We work with teens every day, and our team understands how frequent moves, disrupted routines, and separation from loved ones can affect emotional well-being. We offer clinical assessments, individual therapy, peer groups, and family support tailored to each teen. In some instances, we add medication to the treatment plan.

To get help for depressed military teens, the process begins with a mental health evaluation. From there, we create a plan that fits. To learn more about mental health assessments for teens, reach out to us today.

References

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