Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is an important health condition that family doctors will often encounter. One of the sub-groups that has drawn considerable concern in recent years has been adolescents (those between 13 and 19 years of age) due to the increasing rate of suicide in this population. This article seeks to provide an update on how family doctors can manage adolescents with MDD (also colloquially known as “adolescent depression”). Establishing an accurate diagnosis and identifying relevant causal and contributory factors is important in developing an individualised management plan. A wide range of interventions, pharmacological as well as non-pharmacological, can be considered in the management of adolescent depression. Short-term medications to help symptoms such as insomnia or panic attacks can play a role. Where antidepressants are introduced for moderate to severe depression, the family doctor plays a key role in helping adolescents and their caregivers understand their mechanism of action and side-effect profile. Non-pharmacological interventions, which often require schools and community partners, play a key role in aiding recovery. Finally, suicide risk should be continually assessed and timely referrals to emergency services or specialists should be considered.