Senior Slump or Depression? How Parents Can Tell

A senior slump usually means less effort at school while your teen still enjoys friends, plans and their usual life. Depression goes further: low mood, irritability or numbness that lasts weeks, pulling away from people, and losing interest in things that used to matter. If you cannot tell which one you are seeing, an assessment can help. Blackburn Clinical Services offers one-on-one therapy for teens in our West Los Angeles office, with family sessions for parents.

Why senior year is easy to misread

After years of pressure at college prep schools, many seniors ease off once applications are in. That is common and often harmless. But senior year also brings big losses and unknowns: leaving friends, admissions results, a changing relationship with parents. Depression in teens often looks like irritability, fatigue and “not caring,” which is exactly what adults expect senioritis to look like. That overlap is why it gets missed.

Senior slump or depression: side by side

• Schoolwork. Slump: turning in work late or doing the minimum. Depression: unable to start or finish work, even things they want to do.
• Friends. Slump: more social than ever. Depression: avoiding friends, skipping plans, staying in their room.
• Mood. Slump: relaxed, even happy. Depression: sad, irritable, flat or empty most days for weeks.
• Interests. Slump: still into sports, music or hobbies. Depression: dropping activities that used to matter.
• Sleep and eating. Slump: late nights on weekends. Depression: big changes, such as sleeping all day, insomnia, or eating much more or less.
• The future. Slump: excited about after graduation. Depression: hopeless or uninterested, or saying it does not matter where they go.
• Substances. Slump: maybe some partying. Depression: drinking, cannabis or vaping to cope or to sleep, or using alone.

The National Institute of Mental Health lists signs of teen depression including declining grades, pulling away from friends and family, changes in eating or sleeping, fatigue, and thoughts of suicide or self-harm, and suggests talking to someone if sadness has lasted a few weeks or longer. For more, see signs of teen depression parents miss.

Why it matters to sort it out

Colleges generally expect admitted students to finish senior year in good standing, so a real slide in grades matters either way; your teen’s school counselor can explain what applies. More importantly, depression that is missed in senior year can follow a teen to college, where they will have less support nearby. Treating it now, at home, is easier than at a distance in the fall.

What parents can do now

• Ask about mood, not grades. Try: “You seem down lately. How are you really doing?”
• Watch for two weeks. Write down what you notice about sleep, eating, friends and mood. Patterns are easier to see on paper.
• Talk with the school counselor about whether teachers are seeing the same changes.
• Do not argue about laziness. If it is depression, pressure alone will not fix it and can make your teen withdraw further.
• Use our checklist for parents to decide whether to call.

How therapy at Blackburn helps seniors

• An assessment first. We help sort out whether it is low motivation, burnout, anxiety, depression, substance use or a mix.
• One-on-one sessions in our office or by secure video for clients located in California. Practical work on mood, motivation and the transition out of high school. CBT, DBT, ACT and EMDR are among the approaches used.
• Family sessions to reduce conflict about school and plan for the next year together.
• Getting ready for college. We help seniors build coping skills before they leave home. If therapy needs to continue while a student is in college nearby, see therapy for college students.
• More support if needed. The Blackburn Concierge Outpatient Program offers more frequent one-on-one care with no groups, and psychiatric care can be arranged.
• Hours. Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM, scheduled within those hours around school.

When to get urgent help

If your teen is in danger right now, call 911. If your teen talks about wanting to die, is harming themselves or you are worried they might, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, any time of day. You can call 988 as a parent, for advice about what to do next.

Questions

Is senioritis real?

Many seniors ease off after college applications are in, and a dip in effort is common. It becomes a concern when it comes with low mood, withdrawal from friends, big changes in sleep or eating, or hopelessness about the future.

How long should I wait before getting help?

If changes in mood or behavior have lasted two weeks or more, or are getting worse, it is reasonable to call for an assessment. If your teen talks about suicide or self-harm, call or text 988 right away.

My senior is 18. Can they still come?

We see teens 13 to 17 and also see adults, so an 18-year-old senior can be seen.

Will you tell my teen’s school?

Not without written permission. When clinically appropriate and with permission, we can provide documentation for your teen’s school.

Can parents be part of therapy?

Yes. Family sessions are available, and parents can call first to talk about their concerns before their teen comes in.

More for families: therapy for private school students, college admissions stress, therapy for high-achieving teens and depression treatment.

Get started

You can also email info@blackburnclinical.com or contact us. Parents usually make the first call; your teen does not need to be on the line.

Sources

• NIMH: Teen Depression: More Than Just Moodiness
• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline