Depression does not just occur in adults. In fact, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, about 5 percent of school-aged children suffer from depression at any given time. Although no parent likes to think her child may be suffering from depression, it is something that can be treated with the help of a mental health professional.
Causes
Several possible causes of depression in school-aged children exist, according to Dr. Michael Conner, the clinical director and psychologist for Bend Psychological Services in Oregon and contributor to OregonCounseling.org. These possible causes include a genetic predisposition to depression, development events, medical conditions, certain personality traits, psychosocial stressors or specific events, including parents divorcing, death, moving, switching schools, failures in academics or sports, family conflicts or abuse.
Symptoms
Symptoms of depression in children or teenagers may not be the same as that of adults. Therefore, it is important that parents learn specifically about childhood depression symptoms and carefully watch for these signs in their children. According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, symptoms of childhood depression include low self-esteem, guilt, frequent sadness or crying, decreased interest in activities, persistent boredom, low energy, hopelessness, social isolation, extreme sensitivity, irritability, anger, hostility, difficulty with communication and relationships, frequent complaints of physical illnesses, changes in appetitive, changes in sleep, talk or attempts to run away from home and thoughts or expressions of self-destructive behavior or suicide. If a child is displaying any of these symptoms, parents should seek the help of a mental health professional immediately.
Treatments
Many treatments are available for children suffering from depression. Psychotherapy is effective as a treatment, particularly cognitive behavior psychotherapy, according to Dr. Jay Hoecker, an emeritus consultant in the Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine and contributor to MayoClinic.com. In cognitive behavioral therapy, the child will learn to reframe her thoughts to be healthier and more positive. Family counseling may also help. In some situations, the use of antidepressant medications may also be useful. However, parents should discuss possible risks of antidepressant medications, particularly the increase in suicidal thoughts or tendencies, before deciding if putting their child on antidepressants is best for their specific situation.
Considerations
Acting out at school or at home may be a sign that a child is depressed, but this sign is often overlooked by parents who assume a child needs to be showing signs of sadness in order to classified as depressed. However, this is not always the case. Children exhibiting anger, aggression or hostility may also be suffering from depression but not acknowledging it or allowing themselves to express their feelings of sadness.
Warning
Any expression of suicidal thoughts should be taken seriously and dealt with immediately. It is crucial that all suicidal comments or expressions be reported, even if a comment was said as a joke or as part of a creative endeavor like an essay or poem.
