NeuroStar® TMS Therapy
FDA-cleared, non-medication depression treatment
Teen Mental Health Awareness Month: How NeuroStar TMS Offers New Hope for Teens ages 15-21
Understanding the rise of adolescent depression and how FDA-cleared TMS therapy is expanding treatment options for ages 15-21.
Depression doesn't wait until adulthood. For a growing number of teens and young adults, it shows up in the middle of algebra homework, at lunch tables, and long after the lights go out at night. Teen Mental Health Awareness Month is a time to shine a light on just how many young people are struggling and to talk openly about the treatment options available when the usual approaches haven't worked.
At Greenbrook Mental Wellness Centers, we know how frightening it can be to watch a teenager you love struggle with depression, especially when medication and talk therapy haven't provided the relief they need. That's why we're proud to offer NeuroStar® TMS, the first FDA-cleared Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation therapy add on treatment for adolescents and young adults ages 15–21 with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).¹
Let's Talk About the Numbers
Talking about teen mental health means being honest about the scope of the problem. Recently published data paints a sobering picture:
- An estimated 5.0 million adolescents ages 12–17 in the United States experienced at least one major depressive episode in the past year — about 20.1% of that age group.² Of those, an estimated 3.7 million experienced an episode with severe impairment.²
- Depression doesn't affect every teen equally. Prevalence is significantly higher among adolescent females (29.2%) than males (11.5%),² and CDC data similarly shows depression among girls ages 12–19 running more than double the rate seen in boys the same age.³
- Roughly 4.3 million adolescents and young adults ages 15–21 are affected by MDD each year, according to Neuronetics, the maker of NeuroStar.⁴
- Despite how common depression is among teens, treatment gaps remain wide. A majority of adolescents with a major depressive episode do not receive any mental health treatment at all.⁵
These aren't just statistics. Behind every percentage point is a teenager trying to get through the school day, a young adult starting college or a first job, or a family trying to figure out what to do next.
Why Traditional Treatment Doesn't Always Work
Antidepressant medication and talk therapy remain important treatments for adolescent depression. But for many teens, these approaches come with real limitations. Some don't respond fully to medication. Others struggle with side effects like weight changes, fatigue, or emotional blunting during a time when they're already navigating identity, friendships, and academic pressure. And some simply need an additional option beyond what medication and therapy alone can offer. This is where NeuroStar TMS comes in as an adjunct treatment option for adolescents ages 15-21.
What is NeuroStar TMS?
NeuroStar TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) is a non-drug, non-invasive treatment that goes right to the source of depression, the brain. During a session, a trained provider places a cushioned coil gently against the patient's scalp. The coil delivers focused magnetic pulses to the areas of the brain involved in mood regulation, helping to "wake up" underactive regions and restore healthier brain activity.⁶ It's often described as physical therapy for the brain.
Because NeuroStar TMS doesn't involve medication, it avoids many of the systemic side effects associated with antidepressants. Most patients report only mild, temporary side effects like scalp discomfort or headache at the treatment site.⁷ Patients remain fully awake and alert throughout each session, and there's no downtime afterward so teens can go straight back to class, practice, or the rest of their day.
FDA-Cleared for Adolescents Ages 15-21
In March 2024, the FDA expanded NeuroStar's clearance to include adolescent and young adult patients ages 15–21 with MDD, making it the first TMS therapy cleared for this age group as an adjunct treatment.⁸ That decision was supported by data from more than 1,100 adolescents, among whom 78% experienced clinically meaningful improvement in their depression symptoms.⁹ Additional real-world outcomes data presented since then have shown nearly 60% of adolescent patients reaching remission from their depression.¹⁰
For families who have felt like they've run out of options, this milestone matters. It means a scientifically studied, non-drug therapy is now available specifically for the teens and young adults who need it most.
Supporting the Teens in Your Life
Whether you're a parent, teacher, coach, or friend, you don't have to be a mental health professional to make a difference. Checking in, listening without judgment, and taking a teen's feelings seriously, even when they're hard to understand, can open the door to getting help. If a teen in your life has already tried antidepressants or therapy without the relief they were hoping for, it may be worth asking their provider whether NeuroStar TMS could be part of their care plan.
This Teen Mental Health Awareness Month, let's keep the conversation going. While depression in teens and young adults is common, it's treatable. And no one should have to face it alone.
If you or a teen in your life is struggling with depression, Greenbrook Mental Wellness Centers is here to help. Schedule a no-cost consultation with a knowledgeable member of our team to learn whether NeuroStar TMS may be the right next step.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7.
- NeuroStar Advanced Therapy is indicated as an adjunct for the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in adolescent patients (15–21). NeuroStar Advanced Therapy is only available by prescription.
- National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). "Major Depression." Statistics based on 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) data. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/major-depression
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics. "Depression Prevalence in Adolescents and Adults." Data Brief No. 527. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db527.htm
- Neuronetics, Inc. "NeuroStar® Advanced Therapy Receives FDA Clearance as a First-Line Add-On Treatment for Adolescents with Depression." Press release, March 2024.
- National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). "Major Depressive Episode." Treatment data based on NSDUH findings.
- Post A, et al. (2001). Journal of Psychiatric Research, 35:193–215.
- Liston C, Chen AC, Zebley BD, et al. (2014). Biological Psychiatry, 75(7):517–526.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 510(k) Summary: NeuroStar Advanced Therapy System (K231926).
- Contemporary Pediatrics. "NeuroStar Advanced Therapy receives FDA clearance for adolescents with depression." Study data based on analysis of 1,169 adolescents.
- Data presented at the 2024 American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) annual conference, as reported by Psychiatric Times.
Let's see if we might be a good fit
Take our short quiz to see if TMS therapy or nasal esketamine could be right for you
Share this post
We're Better Together
Subscribe for mental health, self-care, and TMS therapy and nasal esketamine updates for those affected by treatment-resistant depression or OCD.
Contact Us
By providing your email address, you are consenting to receive blog updates from Greenbrook TMS Inc. You may unsubscribe from these alerts at any time by following the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of email alerts. At Greenbrook TMS Inc. we take the privacy and security of your personal information seriously. To learn more about how we protect your personal information, please refer to our Privacy Policy.
You might also like
Discover how NeuroStar TMS Therapy at Greenbrook transformed Briana’s life, providing relief from depression and anxiety.
July is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. Learn about BIPOC mental health disparities and how TMS therapy and SPRAVATO® can help. Schedule a free consult.
Learn how long SPRAVATO® (esketamine) stays in your system, including its half-life, how it’s metabolized, and what factors influence its duration and effects.
Discover how Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month highlights crucial treatments like NeuroStar TMS and SPRAVATO® (esketamine) nasal spray for depression, reducing stigma, and encouraging open dialogue about men’s mental health.
