Please help!

[Pickled1975]

Please help! I'm at my wits end and don't know what to do?!
I moved up to a new area 2 years ago and whilst my other 2 children have settled on and made new friends, my eldest who is 17yr old has struggled. Even though he has friends at college he isn't keen on socialising with them outside of college.
I've suggested he looks for a part time job, join a club to meet and socialise with others of the same age but he does not seem interested.
He is at home all weekend with no one to socialise with and I genuinely believe he is on the verge of being depressed. He has no motovation to do anything and i just don't know what to do to help him. He says he wants to move back to his hometown as he was happier then.
It's heartbreaking to see him so low.... please help. Any advice or suggestions would be much appreciated.

Sorry to hear this Pickled, it is always a worry with moving when you have DC's. So have you moved too far so that he cannot still visit his friends from your previous area then? You seem to be giving him good suggestions and maybe he still needs time to settle down. Does he have any hobbies/interests, or a pet/ Also, what about some voluntary work? Is church an option for any activities, though I know churches are generally poor for appealing to teens unfortunately but sometimes they have a band or something.

On the physical side of things, does he eat and sleep well, as he needs to look after his general health also.

I'm sorry I haven't got any more advice except have you looked at the Young Minds ( I think that's what it's called) website for any other ideas/advice?

Try if possible not to show him your own anxiety too much as this won't help him, just keep up the positive suggestions and hope things start to improve soon.

My DD is born and bred here. She went from school with a few friends to college and no friends so I understand it can be difficult,.

If he is depressed this will explain the lack of motivation. What did help my DD was she had a part time job and her social life revolved around work rather than college. It was slow at first and never going a lot but it was something

The other advantage of working or joining a club is that it occupies some time.

What I am about to say is harsh but do you think he doesn't want it to get better as he wants to take the easy way out and go back to your hometown