What does her therapist say? Quite often teens will speak to anyone other than a parent, so the therapist might have more luck in talking things through with her? Does she still see camhs?

Any hobbies she could lean on for a bit? Preferably that get her out of the house to spread her social circle? So hard for girls of this age even without the break-up etc. what about a young-ish tutor to bring her confidence up about her school work?
Is her dad still local, or just too flaky to rely on for anything?

I think the gym and other hobbies are good ideas.
Once the summer hols are here maybe a volunteering job a few hours a week something she is interested in working with animals, sports organisation etc or a part time paid job something to give her a little confidence boost and meet new people at the same time.
Will she be staying on at that same college after exams OP if not maybe get her excited about the new college she's going to- what groups they have on sports clubs etcx focus her mind on getting excited for the future.
Nothing more to add except - you sound like a lovely mum x

I feel for you - it's a horrible situation.

My DD1 started to suffer from terrible depression and panic attacks at about 14. She dropped out of school at 15 and like yours was very lonely and unhappy.

I'd definitely recommend volunteering (or a job) to get her involved in something new - that was a huge help to my girl and eventually led to the training scheme which she's loving, aged 17 now and like a different person. She is also on anti-depressants, so that's obviously got something to do with it too!

She says too that what helped more than anything was just the amount of time I spent with her, just chatting, being there. At the time, it didn't feel like it was getting anywhere, and I remember so well that feeling of 'Each day as it comes - but for how long?' but it seems it was doing more than I realised.

The only thing I wonder about is the GCSEs. What are her chances of getting good enough grades to go onto 6th form? Because if she's got a reasonable chance of getting in even if she doesn't achieve the grades she's really capable of, perhaps you could take the pressure off a bit?

I think you are both doing very well if the OD was in January, given she is taking her GCSES. Many teens (including my DD) ended up taking a couple of gcses, and then going back a year at a new school. It did mean she could take things slowly and pressure was off while she recovered and ultimately wasnt as difficult as we feared. Hopefully after exams, some of the stress will be lifted.

Most kids will be heads down and have study leave and being at school may remind her more of what she is missing from her old life. I agree with a new college as my DD tried to return to her old school after being in hospital and it was a disaster. I think it was parents fear that depression was contagious more than the girls themselves - there is still a lot of stigma sadly and schools often dont have the expertise to help other teens understand.

if Dad is unreliable, maybe chat to her therapist too, as they might recommend his involvement in therapy.

My dd got involved in charity campaigning for mental health, which helped her both with self esteem and I spent a lot of time with her, baking, being there as Mrs bodger says. A bit of sun and sea helped too. Constantly looking to and planning a new future was important and gradually she grew stronger, appreciating what she was good at more than her vulnerabilities.

She made new friends at college, won awards for her charity work, and is now off to the uni of her choice. best of luck to both of you.

Just want to sympathise on the GCSE stuff. My dd has just turned 16, approaching exams, has depression alongside health issues, self harms, has fallen out with most friends, won't revise. She still has a French controlled assessment outstanding, but won't put in the work to learn it. I know that we will go through hell (again) when she tries to learn it at the last minute and can't - and this is the last chance. What a shame when she has ABB for the first 3 assessments. She was originally predicted As, but now, as you say, I'll just be grateful if she gets enough 'passes' to see her through to college or 6th form. Failure to do so would just compound the self esteem issues. She seemed set on doing a Btec at college, but now talks more about A levels - I think she has cold feet about meeting a new set of people at college although she would be better suited to style of Btec. Roll on the summer when hopefully we can all relax.

In the meantime we're awaiting a psychologist appointment from camhs as her health has deteriorated over last couple of months and after 2 overdoses in last 6 months she has threatened to do the same again. I believe it is time for AD medication and the camhs nurse will be pushing for the same. Our family is being torn apart. It is so hard for our younger DS to understand DDs dark moods and her anger at life. I seem to spend my life trying to smooth things over, taking DD out for coffee, shopping, anything I can get her to do! She has a couple of hobbies to get her out of the house, but even these are a struggle at the moment.

Take care everyone xx

Depending where you are there are motorcycle ministries and social clubs that are out to help if needed. All over the world we are often seen as big burly and obnoxious. Yet we have a code of ethics that aim to protect the family unit. We often ride anywhere and watch each others backs. (M.A.C.E) Motorcyclist advocating child empowerment are around the world and there's a chapter in Victoria always willing to uplift our young. I ride for the road riders for Jesus motorcycle ministry on the Sunshine Coast and there are many between here and northern NSW or Perth. I myself am very social but a quiet personality. Often a biker has dealt with deep dark pasts that hurt many people's emotions and so can relate to emotional trauma. If any of us no matter our so called patches can help, please for our children's sake lets stand and help before its to late. I've nearly lost family to suicide and wold not wish this on any parent or loved one.

Just wondering how you're getting on? I'm in a very similar position to you and was wondering last month how we were ever going to get through it but things seem to be picking up a little bit now. If you want to PM me we could swap strategies if you like.

Hi I've been through the same with my daughter GCSEs boyfriend break up friends ditching her and prom at the same time last year she started self harming writing suicide letters to us all stemming from bullying we are still waiting for help she is on tablets now and seems OK for now but I keep wondering when its all going to go wrong again but when she started collage things started to get better

WalkingInTheSunshine- your initial post almost exactly mirrors what my daughter is going through and my heart goes out to you.
It looks as though things are improving for your daughter and I'm reminded that things can improve.
My daughter was physically ill for a couple of years and hid her depression well, but now that the physical issue has been resolved, the depression has taken on a life of it's own. Friendless and isolated, neither of the anti-depressants she has been allowed to take have had any effect. I think that, like with anyone, if she could get a good night's sleep it would help.

Was medication ever an issue with your DD?

x