The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry reports that about 5 percent of children suffer from depression. Children who suffer from other mental health issues (such as anxiety or ADHD), experience the death of a close friend or family member or are under a lot of stress are at a higher risk for developing depression. According to the Mayo Clinic, the treatment for depression in children includes therapy and medication.
Sadness and Irritability
Children who are suffering from depression may seem unusually sad. They might cry more often and get upset over things that they would have just brushed off in the past. Many children have tantrums and become irritable at some points in time. That's normal. However, children who are depressed might be irritable on a regular basis. Throwing temper tantrums might be a sign of depression. If your child has always thrown tantrums, then this may not be an indicator of depression. If your child didn't throw many tantrums but now throws them almost every day, it could be an indication of a mental health issue such as depression.
Not all children express depression as sadness, so many times it can be overlooked or misdiagnosed. Children suffering from depression might become irritable and angry instead of sad when depressed.
Sleep Issues
A child who is depressed might have issues with sleeping. He might not be able to fall asleep at night, wake up after only a few hours of sleeping or sleep too much. This leads children to have a hard time focusing and concentrating. Teachers might call home, because they're concerned about the child's lack of participation and inability to complete assignments. The child might also seem fatigued and tired most of the day.
Eating Issues
Many children suffering from depression display issues with eating. They might eat double or triple what they normally eat or refuse to eat, saying they aren't hungry. This can lead to children being underweight or overweight; a significant weight change is one sign that a child might be depressed.
Loss of Pleasure
Another sign of depression in children is that they lose pleasure in activities that they used to enjoy. A child who's depressed might stop going outside to play with neighbors, refuse to go to soccer practice and stop watching his favorite television show. A parent should be concerned if a child does not seem to get happy about things that she used to enjoy, such as going to the local ice cream shop or buying a new doll.
Physical Symptoms
Many times, children who are depressed display psychosomatic symptoms. They might complain of stomachaches and headaches. The parent might take the child to the doctor because of the medical complaints and find out that there isn't a medical explanation for the symptoms. Instead, they are being caused by mental health issues.
