Is your child depressed ?

All you need to know about depression in children. 

It's normal for kids to feel sad, down, or irritated, or to be in bad moods from time to time. But when negative feelings and thoughts linger for a long time and limit a child's ability to function normally, it might be depression.
Depression is a type of mood disorder. The main sign is when kids are sad, discouraged, or irritable for weeks, months, or even longer. Another sign a kid might have depression is negative thinking. This includes focusing on problems and faults, being mostly critical and self-critical, and complaining a lot.
Depression can interfere with energy, concentration, sleep, and appetite. Kids with depression may lose interest in activities and schoolwork, seem tired, give up easily, or withdraw from friends or family.
When kids have depression, it's hard for them to make an effort, even when doing things they used to enjoy. Depression can make kids feel worthless, rejected, or unlovable. It can make everyday problems seem more difficult than they actually are. When depression is severe, it can lead kids to think about self-harm or suicide.

Recognising Depression

It can be hard for parents and other adults to know when a child is depressed. An irritable or angry mood might seem like a bad attitude or disrespect. Low energy and lack of interest might look like not trying. Parents (and kids and teens themselves) may not realise that these can be signs of depression.

Because depression can show up in different ways and might be hard to see, it helps to let a doctor know if feelings of sadness or bad moods seem to go on for a few weeks..

Signs of depression in children

Symptoms of depression in children often include:

•sadness, or a low mood that does not go away

•being irritable or grumpy all the time

•not being interested in things they used to enjoy

•feeling tired and exhausted a lot of the time

Your child may also:

•have trouble sleeping or sleep more than usual

•not be able to concentrate

•interact less with friends and family

•be indecisive

•not have much confidence

•eat less than usual or overeat

•seem unable to relax or be more lethargic than usual

•talk about feeling guilty or worthless

•feel empty or unable to feel emotions (numb)

•have thoughts about suicide or self-harming

actually self-harm, for example, cutting their skin or taking an overdose

 

What leads to depression ? 

Anyone can develop depression and it isn't a sign of weakness. It also isn't your fault if your child is depressed. 

While stressful life events, like divorce, may contribute to depression, it's only a small piece of the puzzle. Many other factors, including genetics, also play a role in its development. 

There are a number of different factors that can contribute to childhood depression. Some potential risk factors include:

•Brain chemistry: Imbalances in certain neurotransmitters and hormones may play a role in how the brain works, which can affect moods and emotions and increase the risk of experiencing depression.

•Family history: Children with family members who also have mood disorders such as depression are at a greater risk for also experiencing symptoms of depressive disorders.

•Stress or trauma: Sudden changes such as moving or divorce, or traumatic events such as abuse or assault can also contribute to feelings of depression.

•Environmental factors: A stressful, chaotic, or unstable home environment can also make children more likely to experience depression. Rejection and bullying at school may also be a contributing factor.

What should you do if you find your child to be depressed?

•Talk to your child about his/her feelings and the things happening at home and at school that may be bothering him/her.

•Tell your child’s doctor. Some medical problems can cause depression. 

•Your child's doctor may now screen your child for depression every year. And he will treat any thoughts of suicide as an emergency.

What help as a parent you can provide ? 

•Promote health: The basics for good mental health include a healthy diet, enough sleep, exercise, and positive connections with other people at home and at school. 

•Limit screen time and encourage physical activity and fun activities with friends or family to help develop positive connections with others.

•One-on-one time with parents, praise for good behavior, encouragement for seeking care and pointing out strengths build the parent-child bond

Provide safety and security

•Talk with your child about bullying. Being the victim of bullying is a major cause of mental health problems.

•Look for grief or loss issues. Seek help if problems with grief do not get better. 

•Reduce stress as most children have low stress tolerance. Accommodations in schoolwork is critical as well as lowered expectations at home regarding chores and school achievements. 

•Guns, knives, long ropes/cables and medicines (including those you buy without a prescription), and alcohol should be locked up.

Educate others

•Your child  is not making the symptoms up.

•What looks like laziness or crankiness can be symptoms of depression.

•Talk about any family history of depression to increase understanding.

•Help your child learn thinking and coping skills

•Help your child relax with physical and creative activities. Focus on the his/her strengths.

•Talk to and listen to your child with love and support. Encourage them  to share their feelings including thoughts of death or suicide. Reassure them that this is very common with depression. 

•Help your child look at problems in a different more positive way.

•Break down problems or tasks into smaller steps so your child can be successful.

A child’s mental health is just as important as their physical health and deserves the same quality of support. – Kate Middleton .