Starting the Conversation.........

Find a time when you can approach your mom or dad in a calm way. You might want to open the conversation by asking, "Can I talk to you? I think I might be depressed."


Or you could say, "I've been feeling depressed and bad about things. I've been thinking I might need to talk to someone."
If you can't bring yourself to start a conversation in person, you could write your parent a note saying you need to talk.


Sometimes the conversation just gets started by itself. For example, if you're feeling upset — even if you're crying or overwhelmed — you might just blurt out your feelings. This could be the perfect beginning to the conversation you need to have.
If you're really upset, you'll need to calm yourself (at least a little) to make the conversation worthwhile. That way, a parent can hear what's on your mind and take you seriously — and not just go away thinking, "Oh, I guess he's just upset" and assuming it will pass.


What If I've Been Arguing With My Parents or Getting in Trouble?
If there's been a lot of disrespect between you and your parent — if you fight a lot or just don't talk — it can seem harder to reach out for help. Start by picking a time to talk when you're not arguing.
If it's needed, you can start with an apology, such as, "I'm sorry I've been so rude to you lately" or "I'm sorry I've been messing up so much lately." Then say, "I need to talk" or "I need your help — I think I might be depressed." Chances are, mom or dad will be impressed with your maturity.