Is Your Child Dealing
With Depression?
Are you caring for a child with Depression?
Seeing your child in low spirits and disinterested in everything can be very painful especially if you see how helpless they are.
To help you understand what your son or daughter is going through and how you can help them, as well as help yourself as their carer, we have provided some information about Depression in children.
What is Depression?
People who are depressed experience an extended period of sadness or a negative mood, rather than a brief reaction of sadness to a stressful or difficult situation. In a depressed state, the brain and body do not function as well as they do in a non-depressed state. People who suffer from Depression are likely to experience problems with day to day activities especially when they lose interest in school or work.
Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions. In 2012, approximately 2.1 million people, almost 10% of the Australian population, were reported to be living with Depression. As of 2021, around 3.2% of children are diagnosed with Depression (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
Symptoms of a Child with Depression
Depression can be categorised into three states depending on the number and severity of symptoms.
Mild Depression is temporary bouts of sadness and other symptoms such as anger and hopefulness that do not last for a long time.
Moderate Depression can be reoccurring instances of sadness and worthlessness that heightens your insecurities.
Severe Depression or Clinical Depression, also sometimes known as Major Depression or Major Depressive Disorder includes all symptoms in Mild and Moderate Depressions, together with delusions, hallucinations and thoughts of suicide. People suffering from Clinical Depression most often find it hard to concentrate and think rationally.
Symptoms of Mild Depression in Children
- Sad or irritable mood
- Loss of interest in playing
- Unplanned weight loss
- Insomnia or hypersomnia
- Reduced energy
- Poor concentration
- Reckless behaviour
- Unexplained body aches
Symptoms of Moderate Depression in Children include those in Mild Depression as well as the following:
- Insecurities or problems with self-esteem
- Poor school performance caused by reduced productivity
- Feelings of worthlessness
- Finding it hard to make friends due to increased sensitivities
- Social withdrawal
- Anxiety caused by excessive worrying
- Exploring substance abuse (drugs and alcohol)
Children with Severe or Clinical Depression experience more than symptoms of Mild and Moderate Depression.
They also experience the following in a reoccurring manner:
- Impaired thinking or concentration
- Talks of death or dying
- Contemplating self-harm by being reckless or by directing harmful actions unto self
What causes Depression?
Many different factors can contribute to Depression. A stressful and challenging circumstance such as the loss of a loved one, failure in school, and experiencing familial problems can trigger Depression in children. Other causes of Depression also include the following:
- Personality and genetic vulnerabilities
- Childhood experiences and trauma
- Biochemistry
- Chronic health conditions
- Medical side-effects
Diagnosis of Depression
Depression can develop at a very young age (as early as 3 years old) and children can carry this mental health condition and affect their life as they grow up. To address Depression, bring your child to a GP or a Psychiatrist for early diagnosis and treatment. Unlike other mental health conditions, diagnosing Depression does not involve laboratory tests that can give definite results.
Diagnosing involves systematic interviews through a series of standard questionnaires alongside ruling out other behavioural and mental health conditions. This includes talking to the child, the parents, friends and school teachers to assess the child’s state (and severity of symptoms) on most days. For children to be diagnosed with Depression, they must experience most of the symptoms on most days for at least 6 months.
Treatments for a Child with Depression
People who are depressed show an imbalance in their biochemistry or a deficiency of neurotransmitters in their brain that contribute to feeling ‘happy’ emotions. This is why medication such as Anti-Depressants as prescribed, can be a useful method of treatment. Talking therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and personal and family counselling have been evidenced as the most successful treatment of Depression.
In most cases, children do not understand why they are feeling the way they do especially when experiencing symptoms of Depression. To help your child, bring them to a GP for evaluation and to design a multidimensional treatment that will work best for your child.
How to help your child with depression
Seeing your child suffer from Depression can be very hard and you may find it difficult to care for them. The best way to help them is to bring them to a GP or Psychiatrist for professional help. You can also turn to a mental health phone line or browse online for mental health services that can assist you in finding the right care for your child.
It can be hard to connect with your child, especially one experiencing mental health conditions. But as a parent, what you can do is offer a listening ear and let them know you are there for them. Giving affirmations and positivity is also a good way to let your child know that everything will be alright and that you will always support them no matter what happens.
How to help yourself
Seeing your child experience Depression is not only very hurtful but this can also be a stressful and frustrating experience for you. Supporting them and giving assurance every day can also take its toll and leave you exhausted especially if you do not see any improvements in their condition. But you don’t have to go through it alone.
HelpingMinds® offers free and confidential support to Carers or to people who are caring for someone living with mental health challenges, especially for parents with children going through this experience. We offer free counselling, support groups, as well as rest and revive activities to help you take a breather and rejuvenate your mental health. We also conduct school holiday programs, family programs, and youth programs as part of our advocacy to promote mental health wellness to people living in WA.
Get Support from HelpingMinds®
Would you like to know more about free and confidential mental health carer services and how we can support you? Please feel free to contact HelpingMinds® via the form below or on (08) 9427 7100. For one of our team to get back to you, we will require your email address and/or phone number. Please know all information provided will be treated completely confidential and in line with our privacy policy.