Having suicidal ideation
🔷 Suicidal thoughts in adolescents reflect core depressive pathology—notably hopelessness, worthlessness, and cognitive distortion, and must always trigger a safety assessment.
🔷 In youth, suicidality may present as direct statements, veiled comments, or risk-taking behaviors, so nurses should use direct, non-judgmental questions (e.g., plan, means, intent).
🔷 High-risk flags include prior attempts, substance use, access to lethal means, family conflict, and bullying, necessitating immediate escalation and possible one-to-one monitoring.
🔷 Best practice includes validated screening (e.g., PHQ-A, C-SSRS) and a collaborative safety plan, with rapid referral to mental health services.
🔷 Early identification and intervention reduce morbidity and mortality, aligning with the nursing priority of preserving life and stabilizing risk.
Exhibiting tearfulness
🔷 Persistent crying or easy tearfulness signals emotional dysregulation and low mood, common in adolescent depression where irritability may replace overt sadness.
🔷 Tearfulness often coexists with sleep/appetite changes, fatigue, and impaired concentration, mapping to DSM-5 depressive symptoms.
🔷 Nurses should assess duration (≥2 weeks) and functional impact (school, home, peers) to differentiate transient stress from major depression.
🔷 Trauma, grief, interpersonal stressors, and academic pressure can amplify tearfulness; screening for co-occurring anxiety is essential.
🔷 Interventions include therapeutic listening, psychoeducation for caregivers, and timely linkage to CBT/interpersonal therapy, which reduce affective lability and improve coping.
Avoiding previously enjoyed activities and relationships
🔷 Loss of interest (anhedonia) is a hallmark symptom—teens disengage from sports, hobbies, and friends, indicating neurovegetative and motivational deficits.
🔷 This withdrawal predicts worse functional outcomes, including declining grades, social isolation, and increased self-harm risk if unaddressed.
🔷 Nursing assessment should document baseline vs. current engagement, noting sharp reductions as clinically significant.
🔷 Treatment plans emphasize behavioral activation (graded re-engagement in rewarding activities) and family involvement to restore routine and reinforcement.
🔷 Monitoring school attendance, peer contact, and activity logs provides objective markers of recovery and helps tailor therapy goals.