I 100% recommend getting him into therapy, I was already self harming by that age and I didn’t get the help I needed and it spiraled as I got older.
My so is 9 and has been seeing therapist and psychiatrist for depression and anxiety
He just went on a low dose of zoloft last week and I can tell you it is a huge difference with him. We tried cbd oil but it just wasn’t enough. He was having not so good thoughts and I’m so proud of him for being open with me.
I agree with above…therapy. But you’re never too young to have a chemical imbalance and need antidepressants! Lots of people are on them at his age!!
Therapy and Traditional Chinese Medicine Acupuncture…love
He isn’t to young trust me please get him help asap. I started at 15 my son started with depression at 12
My 14 year old has been seeing a therapist for a year now once a week. Last session she told her that she thinks meds might be best for her anxiety and depression so we talked to her pediatrician and got the go ahead for prosac I thought she was to young but I already see an improvement
therapy!! it really helped my 13 year old & she was suicidal.
Get him in therepy asap. I would look into Cbd. Therapists prob won’t agree but when it comes to your kids sometimes u have to do what u feel is best. Sometimes finding the right antidepressants can be a disaster to… so def therepy and cbd
I’d speak to his pediatrician about therapy and medication
Blood work. Low vitamin levels can exhort depression like feelings, also who’s been talking to online. I found a multivitamin that the reviews boasted about helping teen boys with depression. Plus. Mine went back to sports. Sunshine! Both things helped a lot. 
hang in there. 
Therapy, and I started antidepressants at that age. Best thing for me.
my 11 and 13 year old step daughters are both on antidepressants. their mom abandoned them so they’d been thru hell. but we notice a major difference when they forget to take them. other things that help are keeping them busy. otherwise they lay in bed 24/7. we have their friends over as much as possible. make them go everywhere with us even if they complain, like to the grocery or target, wherever. also have them do things at home. help me with our smaller kids. wash laundry. help me cook. basically just keep their minds stimulated on “other things” and it seriously helps. no matter how much they complain.
First of all, props for noticing and wanting to get him help.
Therapy is super helpful.
Reminding him how loved and awesome he his on a daily basis could also help. (Not that you don’t already do that) positive affirmations help me get through every single day.
Therapy & meds if his dr recommends. You wouldn’t force him to go without insulin if he was diabetic, mental health is no different.
I wouldn’t push or nag too hard about what’s going on. Try to talk to him and reassure him you are there for him no matter the thoughts or feelings he may have. Try a walk or taking him somewhere to clear his head. These things always worked for me so good kick mama!
Therapy asap. Does he feel like he wants to hurt himself? I’d take him to the emergency room for an evaluation. That will get things started quicker.
Do not blow this off.
I was the same at his age and honestly the best therapy is him knowing you can listen to him.
Most of my trauma came from not having anybody to speak too.
And when my mum tried getting other people to speak to me her friends etc it spiralled me worse because I didn’t want people knowing my business I just wanted her to hear me x
I don’t have a child going through this they are still very little. But I just want to express my love for this page and how helpful everyone is. And props to mama for asking for advice. Never know if I’ll be in this situation years from now and this is super helpful for me to even keep in mind.
Get A full physical and blood work up done. Therapy and just be there.
Lexapro 5mg does wonders for my girl. She’s 15
Get him into counseling ASAP and yes meds can help but with monitoring from your and his therapist and pediatrician
I started them at that age and tbh it made me alot worse. I didn’t need anti depressants. I needed support, therapy and hobbies to heal
My 12yr is suffering from manic depression and severe anxiety, we tried therapy but it was not helping, they referred us to a pediatric phycologist. They put her on two very low doses of anxiety and depression meds, and she’s doing better. Trust me I was against having her on meds this young, but I had to because she was very suicidal.
Try therapy first…dont jump right on the meds and have him dependant on medication/pharmaceutical drugs…good luck 
Vitamin D! As an adult I take 4000 u daily and it’s made a huge difference to my depressive episodes.
Therapy… and I’ll always push martial arts as a real confidence booster! Therapy first.
Meds are ok to consider at that age. I’d be dead w out them. Chemical imbalance in the brain. Please get him to dr and seek therapy from a professional. Good luck!!
I started antidepressants and therapy at 11. It was very helpful for me. Sometimes the ONLY thing that can manage depression is medication. My mom could’ve put me in a sport or took me on drives or offered her ear and I would’ve still wanted to commit. It was the only thing that made it somewhat manageable and it’s the only thing to this day that does
Contact your drs asap get him help
Please speak with a doctor you trust
Counseling, maybe tai chi or a martial arts class. Or just something else that he good at/enjoys. My kids play music. Some people do need meds to be normal i def understand the struggle with age tho hes young. Tell his dr your concerns with meds and ask for alternates
I would look up therapy for him get him to talk to someone about his emotions etc then take it from there bless him
My daughter just needed someone to talk to that wasn’t connected/related to the situation so she went to counseling and it helped her tremendously
Get him into some counseling. Be there for him and listen to what his saying. Get him back into some hobbies that he liked or even introduce new ones to him. If you can, take him on a little getaway weekend.
I think alot is hormones rather than depression. Just try keep him active and keep him talking. My now 16yr old went through it then 2 siblings under. Try not let him sit amongst himself so gets in his own head. It’s hard as that’s mainly teens. But my kids will talk and my now 16 and 14 Yr old it has passed alot. I find is when sat alone thinking.
Everyone says girls have it bad, and they do, but my son has had more issues with depression than my 3 daughters.
CBD helped him with the anxiety. I would not turn away from anti-depressants though. It may take a few different meds to help him but if it saves his life, I’d do anything. Cognitive behavioral therapy is also an option. I’d take him to a psychiatrist asap. I’d also talk to his school counselor and make sure there’s no issues there as well. Jmo
At that’s age I was already hospitalized and medicated which all made me worse. Therapy and knowing my mama was there helped alot (obviously not EVERYTHING because I still occasionally cut. More like once ever 5-8 years instead of daily)
Therapy is the best place to start, if they suggest some medication please be open minded. I was completely against it with my daughter and absolutely refused to fill the prescription until things got really bad! The meds helped!!! She is in a good place now… He may be okay with just talk therapy. I only shared for if he needs that extra help… good luck!
Talk to him and his doctor about it try therapy… Please try to get him some help and not just try to home remedy depression
mallows heiarch of needs and psychosocial stages of development are key tools to help develop coping skills and confidence. Lokking glass self.
Therapy for sure talking it out can help a lot and then if they suggest medicine then go for medicine. I found getting my kiddo into karate also helped because it helped with focus and also making more friends so she has other kids her age to talk to in a safe environment
Does he eat healthy? B12 sublingual vitamins under the tongue in the morning , herbal tea, magnesium, multivitamins. Also church, volunteer work, exercise
I was against meds too. My son has severe anxiety. I did all the things. Therapy, essential oils, vitamins, prayer, etc. I decided his happiness was much more important than my opinion and thoughts against medicating my child. He needed it. He is so much better now. I would definitely consider it with depression. Prayers for you and your son it’s tough mama.
Kids under 13 CAN take antidepressants. Be careful what you Google or look up on the internet. It’s not always true. I’ve been thru this with my own kids. You’d be surprised at how much they can help. Counseling also.
Your doctor will refer you th CAHMS. Also contact his school as they’re guidance counsellor will be a great help. Going for walks, good sleep and eating patterns too.
Take him to his pediatrician ! The drs are way more equipped to make a management plan.
Have you tried listening to him?
My son began this journey at 14. Before any thought of medication was entertained our doctor had a full physical done. Including blood work and an mri. She wanted to rule out any chance at all something physical was going on. Once that was all clear with his agreement we started meds. Took trying 5 different ones to find one suitable for him. It can be a process and it takes patience and all your support. When looking into a therapist ask your child their preference. Male or female? Young or older. Who the person who needs the therapist will feel more comfortable with is very important. Don’t be afraid to reach out on any local community pages for input on local therapists people may reccomend. This can be done anonymisely to protect your families privacy. These are the steps I took when my child was feeling this way.
Stay away from prescription meds. Look into CBD Oil for Kids
I got my son counselling. It’s worked wonders
Therapy
my son didn’t like meds, started teaching himself to play guitar and loved soccer. Therapy helped him understand himself better.
Therapy and connect with a child psychiatrist. He 100% is not too young for meds. I’d seek out some help for him asap. When you add in puberty and hormones it’s only going to get more difficult for him.
What about getting him into exercise at a local gym or a sport/club ? Best way to fight depression is natural endorphins and a strong community of people surrounding you !
Is he seeing a. Counselor or able to talk to anyone he feels comfortable enough with? It’s very important to seek help, I’m not against medicines but some are to quick to throw pills down kids throats so to speak, that’s all you ever hear now a days " lil Johnny or Sally are medicated 
, I would try my best to get him some help in the form of" Talking " to someone and try your best to steer clear of the " pills" bandaid to cover their emotions or numb them to not feel ANY emotions
Depends where you are based. I’m in the UK so can only really advise of UK based charities which offer free therapy specifically for teens. May be worth a search what is out there. CBT can also be a good shout as it will help him learn coping mechanism and how he reacts to his triggers.
May also help if he finds a hobby he loves especially a social one so he has an outlet and somewhere else he can make friends too.
Please don’t think of medication as the enemy though and medication isn’t always for life either he may only need it short term. I would speak to his doctor.
Also do you know the route of his depression? Puberty, bullying, school pressure… it’s a very difficult time of life for most children and knowing the main cause may help determine how you handle it.
Hope he feels better soon
Find a good pediatric therapist!!!
Therapy my goddaughter is tge same age with same issue.
As a mother with 3 kids who have clinical depression I can tell you that you have to do all the things or meds wont even work that great. All Of the things- therapy, lots of fruits and veggies help the body produce more serotonin, exercise helps body produce more dopamine, A good sleep schedule, a hobbie or sport, some calming techniques for when stressed. I Hope this helps. In a world where our kids are often isolated and stationary to begin with covid amplified that.
Listen closely when he talks to u. Meds help sometimes but being there and listen to what he is feeling and talk talk talk. Makes sure he knows he can come to u at any moment of the day. Express that to him. U R THERE FOR HIM.
Kids don’t need drugs, those harm their brain.
They need therapy and a lot of support, and to belong to a group.
I went through this last year with my 12 year old …I found a therapist really helped talk him through his emotions …they did not suggest medication at such a young age but therapist twice a week really brought him in to some light
Put him in therapy… it will help
Any sports he’s interested in?
Hobbies?
Youth group at church?
Just anywhere where he can make friends and feel a sense of community/support.
Less screen time.
More outside time.
Planned ahead “mom and me mental days”
Personally, I’d try to find more organic ways before trying a medication.
(Therapy or psychiatrist may help without meds)
The medications are not a one size fixes all and will take time to find something that fits him best.
Take him to his pediatrician and get a full blood panel ran on him. My son was very low on vitamin d. I took him to a counselor and started him on vitamin d and after a few months he was feeling much better.
Find out why he is depressed. Maybe someone is teasing him at school. Overwhelmed at school?
I started antidepressants when I was 12. Find the right therapist and see what they think.
There’s no age limit for meds. My daughter was 11 when she had to start meds… shes 13 now and she’s been on and off many trying to find the right combo of meds… counseling, but the child has to have a great connection with the counselor for it to be effective. Also touch base with their teachers/school counselor about what’s going on.
Get him in therapy and to his primary doctor ASAP. Please don’t try to diagnose and treat using info from the internet.
Get him into counseling
My son is 14 and having similar issues therapy is working wonders for him sometimes it helps to talk to someone his friend is also having same issue and therapy is working wonders for him too hope this helps
Without meds, you need to find the root of his depression. Get him his favorite lunch or dinner or make it and start a conversation. Make sure to talk about things that have ever made you sad. People open up more when people open up to them. Depressed people are loved but often can’t feel the love. Extra hugs and all the love you can give will help. Get him to open up more and see if you can handle it or needs a therapist. Therapist only talk with you about your issues. They can’t prescribe antidepressants. So don’t worry there. Whether he really needs one depends how well he will open up to you. If you feel him holding back, get him in therapy. You can even ask him if he feels ok to talk to you or would feel better talking to a therapist. A lot of what he may need depends what issues are bothering him and how deeply. You have to be the judge of that after you try another talk. You know him best.
Its good he is talking to you. Don’t push the issue. And sometimes they just want someone to listen. And don’t pretend to relate to something you may not have been thru. Ask if he would like to speak to someone else. Don’t just spring the therapist thing on him. That will piss him off. Especially when he is already speaking you to about things. Dont yell. Dont argue. Just listen.
I got diagnosed with bipolar and depression at that age. I was put on medication and in counseling. I hated the medication and the gap where you have to find the right medication that works for you. I went through spells where I felt like a zombie. I suggest counseling. However, make sure that you do your research on the person. My first therapist would tell my mom everything that was said in session and she even read a page from my journal to her. I hated therapy for a long time after that and it made my problems even worse.
Diet change, exercise, vitamins and minerals and therapy. Lots of open communication and understanding.
I got my son in to counseling. COVID shut down really did a number. He also went to a day program for a month instead of staying in a institution. That helped so much.
Probably has to do with school. The kids and teachers. Teachers can be bullies too. I know from experience at that age
I would start with a therapist and go from there.
Get him active. Exercise does help
I was on zoloft at 12. It helped me. Paxil or how ever you spell it made me worse.
Counseling. Also it helps if he is involved in some kind of extra curricular activity. Doesnt have to be sports. Drama club, youth group, art class, boy scouts etc.
Do not wait. Go to a Dr or Therapist. That is when kids mainly boys are so confused do not hesitate
Get him into counseling. It’s a big help
Counseling there is also a lot of more natural option. Essential oils, diet changes, exercise, vitamins, cbd, thc, and so many other things that can help that don’t have the side effects anti depressants have.
Talk to he pediatric doctor and see about therapy.
Diet exercise and a support group can make a huge difference .
It could be medical. I’d get a through physical
He needs friends. Medicine is mostly not the answer. Teens will get addicted to medicine and later on become addicts to narcotics. Maybe counseling
If depression runs in your family he very well may need meds. If I hadn’t gotten on meds I don’t think I’d have gotten to where I’m at. Support and understanding are huge needs as well. I would rather my kid have medication then one day they not be here because I didn’t believe in medicine.
Depression can be a symptom and not necessarily a cause… like undiagnosed adhd or autism or both… that being said, if a doctor says he needs it listen to the person with the PhD. Additionally. There’s a test called genomind that most insurances pay for that will tell you what genetically will work medicine wise for your kiddo. Worth checking out.
Talk to his pediatrician, they will refer you to a psychologist and therapist. My son had some severe anxiety/depression after his dog was killed by another. It helped a lot 
good luck!!
For whatever they tell you, there’s a hundred things you’re unaware of. Therapy is hard. It doesn’t come natural to us and there’s a lot of negative stigma associated with it.
Here’s the thing… One person’s trauma is another person’s “get over it”. We are not all as strong as we’d like to think we are… Or want others to think.
I’m 43. Earlier this year, I said my goodbyes and was ready to move on from this life. It screws me up that I can’t use the “s” word for unaliving myself… But I was there. I have struggled with depression since my teens. Never thought I really had anything to be depressed about. Since I’ve been in therapy I’ve learned about childhood trauma. I had plenty of traumatic things happen to me throughout my life… So it makes sense… But life hasn’t always been this overwhelming. It adds up… Be grateful he came to you.
Even if he won’t speak to a therapist, that’s not your job. You’re job to
Is to get him there in front of the therapist. A good therapist will do all the work of getting him to open up.
Is he experiencing any bullying or other issues to cause the depression?
Whatever u do avoid zoloft. Every single person I have ever talked to who has been on it had negative reactions and it even worsened the depression. I didn’t listen and tried it at 15 and I literally went crazy from it. I felt like I was on Crack or something and couldn’t stop wanting to do something and if I wasn’t doing something I’d go apeshit and if I missed a day (even on a super low dosage) I’d be so horribly depressed it was almost unbearable. I ran out of it once because we kept failing to get me to my appts and it felt like I was having a heartattack due to the withdrawals
Magnesium, vitamin b’s
Get him to a Dr ASAP
Seratonin or vitamin B
These may help:
Regular therapy and counselling
Good nutrition
Regular exercise
Sport
Hobbies, incl. outdoor hobbies
Vitamin supplements
Medication managed by a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist
Lots of love and emotional support
Please talk to his doctor and a therapist. Do not look for advice through social media
As someone who’s parents decided they were too young for medication they NEEDED I say have his doctor decide
I was denied the medicine I needed and it sent me in a severe downward spiral that lasted years