Is your child depressed?
Many people think of depression as something that affects only
adults. In fact, it affects children and teenagers too.
According to the latest figures from the Office of National
Statistics, one in 10 children in Great Britain aged five to 16 has
a recognisable mental disorder, with 4% of children suffering from
an emotional disorder such as anxiety or depression.
It can be tough being a child these days, with family break-ups,
overworked parents, exam stress, bullying at school and alcohol and
drug problems becoming more and more common.
The problem for parents is that depression in children can be
difficult to spot. Crucially, there are ways to tell the difference
between the normal ups and downs that every child will
experience and the beginnings of a more serious emotional health
problem.
"The obvious signs to look out for include a low mood and
unhappiness, with tearfulness or irritability that may not be
related to anything specific," says Dr Navina Evans, consultant
psychiatrist at London's Capio Nightingale Hospital and the East
London City Mental Health Trust.
"Also watch out for reactions when something sad happens. For
instance, when someone dies it's normal for everyone in the family
to feel distressed about it. But if you feel your child's reaction
is too extreme or has gone on for too long, that could also be a
sign of depression."
According to Dr David Kingsley, consultant adolescent
psychiatrist at Cheadle Royal Hospital's Young Persons' Service,
one of the key signs is whether or not a child's mood is affecting
the way they function on a day-to-day basis.
"If a young person was unable to function at school and had lost
interest in things they were previously interested in, then that's
a major sign," he says. "So, too, is increasing social isolation.
These are signs that low mood is causing them significant
impairment."
What can you do?
If you feel your child is suffering from depression, what should
you do?
"The first thing you should do is talk to them," says Dr Evans.
"Really try to find out what's troubling them. And whatever's
causing the problem, don't trivialise it. It may not be a big deal
to you, but it could be a major problem for your child."
If you're still worried after talking to them, see your GP, says
Dr Kingsley. "If it's something that requires further treatment,
there are several options, including counselling services for young
people, family therapy (if appropriate) or cognitive behavioural
therapy, which is a type of talking therapy. A specialist may also
consider antidepressant medication, but only in severe cases."
In the meantime, if you worry that your child may be prone
to depression, what can you do to stop it happening? Dr
Kingsley advises, "All children and young people need to feel
respected, valued and loved. They need to have relationships with
caregivers (usually parents) where they feel valued for who they
are in an unconditional and positive way. Such a relationship would
go a long way to protect a young person against developing
depression."
Additional information can be found on the NHS
UK web site