Depression in Children

Unfortunately, it has become drilled into our society that children cannot be depressed. After all, children have very little worries to or stress to deal with, so why would they be depressed? Well, that’s exactly where the issue lays; people are misinformed about the definition of depression. Depression is not what people think it is, and that is a few bad days that put you into a gloomy slump. Depression goes much further than that. Having a bad day at work, or getting in an argument with your significant other, is not necessarily going to make you depressed (though such occurrences can eventually lead to depression). The point is, depression can arise due to a number of factors, and children are just as susceptible to growing depression. Depression in children is more common than many would think, but often goes unnoticed, as children are simply unable to communicate their emotions and problems as adults and teenagers are able to. One also has to keep in mind, that contrary to common belief, children actually do have things to worry about. Think back to when you were in elementary school, and wanted to try and have the most friends. You would try to show off your newest cool toys, or your flashing shoes; but what about those children that went unnoticed in school, and had very few, or no friends at all?

Why Does Depression Occur Among Children?

There is no one size-fits-all answer here, but researchers are getting closer and closer to figuring out just what is behind depression. Now, unlike other illnesses and disorders, determing whether one is suffering from depression is difficult. Why? There simple is no way to determine whether one is suffering from depression or not, whereas many other illnesses can be tested for and determined whether one is positive or negative. Children who fall under any one or more of the categories below have an increased chance of suffering from depression:

  • Others in their family have suffered from depression and/or other mental disorders
  • Death of a parent at a young age
  • Have suffered physical, sexual, or emotional abuse
  • Suffer from a chronic disease

Now, researchers have claim that there are many children who suffer from depression far before any of these factors are present, or simply in cases where none of the above have occurred. This opens way for the debate that is some other reason, or reasons, that causes depression in children. This most common argument is that depression in children is caused due to genetics and their brains chemical composition. It is possible that depression can be due to one or the other, or even both. Needless to say, the cause is not all that significant, but the most significant part is finding out that the child is suffering from depression, and beginning the recovery process.

Symptoms of Depression in Children

  • Exhibiting sad/gloomy behavior
  • Low level of confidence; children often say things that back this up, but are often dismissed by parents. (eg. “I have no friends”)
  • No longer likes activities s/he used to take part in (sports, arts, etc.)
  • Sleeping more than usual/sleeping less than usual
  • Complaints of physical pain (head, stomach, etc.)
  • Irritated easily

The above are common depression symptoms among children. Like any human, children also have short fluctuations in their mood, and this is completely normal. But in the case that their mood changes are continuing for extended periods of time, it is extremely important that you have them taken to your local health provider to be examined.

Treating Depression in Children

It is often difficult for parents to face the fact that their child may be suffering from depression. It is simplydepression in children upsetting, and parents often want to deny it. Nonetheless, avoiding the truth does no one any good in these sorts of cases. It is important that if you think child is depressed and would attempt to hurt himself/herself, you must seek help immediately. Your child may have to be hospitalized while mental health professionals determine the best plan of action to treating your child’s depression.

Psychotherapy and antidepressant medication are the two most common methods for treating depression in children. Psychotherapy is similar to counseling, and though it has proven to be effective, it is only effective to a certain point in some cases. Why? Researchers have determined that in some cases, children are depressed due to a chemical imbalance, not any external factors. In these cases, antidepressants are necessary, as psychotherapy can only do so much. On the other hand, if the depression is primarily due to external occurrences, such as the death of a loved one, psychotherapy is essential, as antidepressants can only do so much. Psychotherapists will counsel your children and teach them and assist them in dealing with occurrences in their past that triggered the onset of depression. Due to the fact that antidepressant medication can have side effects (both in the short run, and long run), mental health doctors generally try to take the psychotherapy route prior to resorting to medication.