• University of Reading

Understanding Depression and Low Mood in Young People

Understand how to recognise depression and low mood in teenagers and learn how to help.

57,199 enrolled on this course

Understanding Depression and Low Mood in Young People

57,199 enrolled on this course

  • 5 weeks

  • 3 hours per week

  • Accreditation available

  • Digital certificate when eligible

  • Introductory level

Find out more about how to join this course

Learn how to recognise and help with depression and low mood in young people

Depression in teenagers can be long-lasting and have wide-ranging effects. Identifying such difficulties early on and offering appropriate support is key in bringing about positive change for young people. However parents and professionals are not always aware of key signs and symptoms of depression or what to do when teenagers are faced with such difficulties.

This course will help you to recognise low mood and depression in teens, understand CBT – an evidence based treatment, discover practical techniques to help support young people and, access sources of further advice.

Download video: standard or HD

What topics will you cover?

Week 1: What does problematic low mood and depression look like?

  • Recognising the symptoms and causes of depression in young people
  • The impact on parents and carers
  • Understanding self-harm and minimising risk
  • Seeking help and treatment options

Week 2: Healthy habits for young people

  • Identifying the foundations of good mental health
  • Exploring the importance of sleep, eating, and physical activity

Week 3: Doing more of what matters

  • Introducing the concept of behavioural activation for young people
  • How to monitor activity and increase valued activities to get more reward from life
  • How to manage different views of what is a valued activity
  • Giving positive reinforcement and rewards

Week 4: Challenging thoughts

  • How thinking tricks us and keeps us stuck in low mood
  • Challenging thoughts
  • Helping your child find the facts, face the facts
  • Understanding that adults have negative thoughts too

Week 5: Family Communication & Self-Care, Planning for the Future and Getting More Help

  • Looking after yourself
  • Managing conflict
  • Dealing with communication problems and stress
  • Planning for the future, dealing with setbacks and solving problems
  • Getting more help

Who is this accredited by?

The CPD Certification Service
The CPD Certification Service:

This course has been accredited by the CPD Certification Service, which means it can be used to provide evidence of your continuing professional development.

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Understand the key signs and symptoms of adolescent depression and how it may present itself
  • Identify how depression differs from low mood and other 'normal' mood fluctuations in teenagers
  • Describe key environmental and lifestyle factors which may contribute to depression in teenagers
  • Discuss what teenagers and carers can do to promote a healthier lifestyle within the family
  • Understand how a psychological approach can help us to better understand depression
  • Understand CBT and other key strategies that can be helpful for low mood
  • Identify how patterns of behaviour and thinking can contribute to depression in teenagers and how these can be addressed in therapy
  • Discuss the importance of good communication when supporting teenagers with depression, both within families and between families and other agencies such as schools
  • Summarise how and why breakdowns in communication occur and how to resolve these

Who is the course for?

The course has been specifically created for parents of young people with depression and low mood, teachers and primary (or other) healthcare professionals who play a role in detecting mental health difficulties and offering appropriate support and guidance to young people.

Who will you learn with?

I'm a Clinical Psychologist & researcher. Much of my work is with parents of children & adolescents who are experiencing mental health problems. I’m passionate about supporting and empowering parents.

I head up a number of educational outreach projects and am interested in spreading knowledge about evidence-based therapies for common mental health difficulties such as anxiety and depression.

I am a psychologist conducting research on anxiety and depression in young people. My work focuses on how young people develop mental health problems, and how we can prevent or treat them.

I'm a clinical psychologist. Most of my work has been research on depression and anxiety and how to improve treatments. We need to make effective treatment available to everyone @DrS_Reynolds

I am a research clinical psychologist, with a particular interest in making treatments for young people with low mood and depression more effective and accessible.

Who developed the course?

University of Reading

The University of Reading has a reputation for excellence in teaching, research and enterprise.

Ways to learn

Buy this course

Subscribe & save

Limited access

Choose the best way to learn for you!

$134/one-off payment

$27.99

For the first two months. Automatically renews

Free

Fulfill your current learning needDevelop skills to further your careerSample the course materials
Access to this courseticktick

Access expires 2 May 2024

Access to 1,000+ coursescrosstickcross
Learn at your own paceticktickcross
Discuss your learning in commentstickticktick
Certificate when you're eligiblePrinted and digitalDigital onlycross
Continue & Upgrade

Cancel for free anytime

Ways to learn

Choose the best way to learn for you!

Subscribe & save

$27.99

For the first two months. Automatically renews

Develop skills to further your career

  • Access to this course
  • Access to 1,000+ courses
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Digital certificate when you're eligible

Cancel for free anytime

Buy this course

$134/one-off payment

Fulfill your current learning need

  • Access to this course
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible

Limited access

Free

Sample the course materials

  • Access expires 2 May 2024

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

T&Cs apply.

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn

Learner reviews

Learner reviews cannot be loaded due to your cookie settings. Please and refresh the page to view this content.

Get a taste of this course

Find out what this course is like by previewing some of the course steps before you join:

Do you know someone who'd love this course? Tell them about it...

You can use the hashtag #FLteendepression to talk about this course on social media.