When your teen seems withdrawn, unmotivated, or stuck in a low mood, it’s natural to wonder: What happened? You might try to trace it back to a specific moment or trigger, but teen depression rarely has just one cause.

If you're a parent of a teen, you've probably asked yourself at some point: Is all this screen time making my kid depressed? With 95% of teens using at least one social media platform, and nearly half reporting they’re online “almost constantly”, it’s no surprise this question is front and center for so many families. But like most things in parenting, the answer isn’t black and white.

Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions teens face today. It’s not just occasional sadness; it’s a weight that can make it hard to get out of bed, concentrate in class, connect with friends, or feel hopeful about the future.