Healthcare providers “test” for depression by asking questions about what you’re going through. Unfortunately, there’s not a blood test for depression just yet! Your doctor will ask about your mood, how you’ve been sleeping, your energy level, and if you’re eating more or less than usual. They may also recommend a test to check your hormone levels, because sometimes hormonal imbalance can cause depression symptoms. It is so great for you to be reflecting on what you’re feeling and interested in finding support! We encourage you to share your concerns with your primary care provider (PCP) and they can help you understand what’s going on, and help you learn about options for treatment. If your mood is causing you to wish you weren’t alive, you should tell a parent or a health care provider immediately, call a crisis line (1-800-273-8255), or go to the emergency room to help you feel safe.
Our health guides are developed through a systematic, rigorous process to ensure accuracy, reliability, and trustworthiness. Written and reviewed by experienced healthcare clinicians from Boston Children's Hospital, a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital and consistently ranked as a top hospital by Newsweek and U.S. News & World Report, these guides combine clinical expertise, specialized knowledge, and evidence-based medicine. We also incorporate research and best practices from authoritative sources such as the CDC, NIH, PubMed, top medical journals, and UpToDate.com. Clinical specialists and subject matter experts review and edit each guide, reinforcing our commitment to high-quality, factual, scientifically accurate health information for young people.