How seriously should I take this ?

[argghh]

My son is age 18.
He has always been a little immature.
He recently started work full time and has been having trouble with his sleep. He also recently split up with his gf but they had only been going out for about a month - but he seemed really upset about it,
He went to the drs the other day for help in sleeping and the Dr diagnosed him as seriously depressed= and referred him for counselling.
There seems to be a trend amongst a couple of his friends for being 'depressed' one took an O/D the other evening, and one is said to have slashed his wrists but not sure how true that is.

I personally tend to think its more teenage angst and emo behavoir but should I be worried ?
He can be ok and sometimes sings and jokes with us when at home, and sometimes he even talks to me! - we travel into work together a couple of times a week and tend to get into a conversation, and he will chat away with me so sint completely withdrawn.

You seem a little quick to dismiss your son's feelings and his doctor's diagnosis. It is quite possible that he has been more open with his doctor about how he feels than he has been with you. The doctor is likely to have done a questionnaire with your son about his feelings and also made their own assessment of how your son came across.

Also, you are mistaken if you think that being depressed means you never have a good day or you cannot talk comfortably with someone you are close to and can trust.

I would suggest you make clear to your ds that you take his diagnosis seriously and that you are there to listen whenever he wants to talk and support him in going to counselling. I'm sure a busy 18 year old would not bother going to counselling if he didn't feel he needed it.

It must be very worrying for you and I guess you'd rather not want it to be true. And I hope you are right. Time will show.

Thanks for your reply.

Also, you are mistaken if you think that being depressed means you never have a good day or you cannot talk comfortably with someone you are close to and can trust

Really really good point, and very correct. Perhaps I was being glib and thinking "oh yes hes ok, its just a teenage thing'.

I will make it clear that I take the diagnosis seriously, the Dr did do a questionnaire, and hope that things get better for him.