Low Mood and Depression

Depression is common in young people. Around 2% of 5–19 year olds in England experience a depressive episode, rising to 7% in those aged 12 and above. It’s more common in older adolescents and in girls, and it often shows up alongside anxiety.

Without the right support, recovery can be slow – only around 10% recover within three months, and 50% within a year. That’s why understanding the difference between normal ups and downs and something more persistent really matters.

Low Mood vs Depression

We all feel sad, flat or irritable sometimes. That’s part of being human.

Low mood is:

• Something everyone experiences occasionally
• Often linked to a specific situation
• Temporary (usually less than two weeks)
• Unpleasant, but manageable
• Often improved by small changes or time

Depression, however, is different. It is:

• Persistent (lasting two weeks or more)
• Present most days
• Impacting sleep, appetite, school, relationships or motivation
• Accompanied by difficult thoughts and physical symptoms
• Hard to shift without professional support

What Depression Can Look Like

In young people, depression doesn’t always look like constant sadness. It can show up as:

Behavioural changes

• Withdrawal or isolation
• Losing interest in things they used to enjoy
• Risky behaviour or increased use of alcohol/drugs
• Underperforming at school
• Self-harm

Emotional changes

• Tearfulness or emotional numbness
• Irritability and anger outbursts
• Sudden emotional shifts

Thought changes

• Self-criticism
• Guilt or blame
• Hopelessness about the future
• Feeling like a failure
• Increased sensitivity to rejection

Physical changes

• Sleep difficulties (too much or too little)
• Appetite changes
• Constant tiredness
• Unexplained physical complaints

Why It Happens

Depression usually develops through a mix of factors — environmental stress, relationships, individual temperament, and biology. For neurodivergent young people, it can also be linked to chronic stress, masking, social exhaustion, or feeling misunderstood. That nuance matters.

If you’re here, you might be wondering: Is this just a phase… or is something more going on? I hear this question a lot — from worried parents and from teens who quietly feel ‘off’ but can’t explain why. Depression isn’t laziness. It isn’t attention-seeking. And it isn’t a parenting failure.

The Good News

Depression is treatable. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is recommended by NICE and widely used in the NHS because it works. In our work together, I help young people understand what’s happening in their mind and body, break the cycle that’s keeping them stuck, and move towards the life they actually want – not just ‘back to normal’, but forward with clarity and confidence.

I also support parents so you know what to say, what not to say, and how to walk alongside your child without feeling helpless.

If you’re unsure whether this is low mood or depression, we can figure it out together. You don’t have to work it out alone.