Children, they say are a gift of God. When we talk about children the word that comes to mind almost synchronous to them is innocence. It is this trait of children that enders them to all. A laughing bubbly child becomes the life of the house. They bring joy not only to their parents but to everyone directly or indirectly associated with them.
One day if the child is not happy or is crying the atmosphere of the house changes. We always feel that they should remain those happy jolly bubbles bouncing around everywhere. But, to think of it, this is not always possible.
Children are also human beings and they too feel just as disappointed and dejected as adults. The majority of the time, the causes of feeling low among children are trivial and are not paid attention to, but sometimes there may be a major reason behind why a child may not be happy or maybe showing a drastic change in their behaviour.
Mental health and well-being have been spoken of lengths in the recent past. With the increased stress of life, the number of depression cases among adults is on the rise. Not just adults, nowadays this disorder is being seen in children too. It would be wrong to assume that children do not experience emotional disturbances.
Just like adults, they too have their share of problems that they may not be able to cope with at the time. Being down or feeling sad for a short period is understandable but if this altered state of mind remains for a longer period then it may be a sign to look out for. In this article, we will understand a few things about childhood depression as well as how to handle the same.
What is meant by Childhood Depression?
Depression according to World Health Organization is a common mental disorder characterized by persistent sadness and a lack of interest or pleasure in previously rewarding or enjoyable activities.
Although it is commonly believed to happen in adulthood children are equally prone to this condition. Studies reveal the prevalence of depression from extremely low age (9 yrs) and rising sharply from 9 to 19 yrs, especially in females (1).
Children are usually very moody but childhood depression is different from normal mood swings. Similarly, if a child is sad or is crying does not always mean that they are depressed. Hence accurate diagnosis and recognition of the signs and symptoms of depression in children become very important. Also, we should understand that childhood depression is normal and can be treated provided it is accurately diagnosed.
Signs of Childhood Depression(2)
Depressive disorders in childhood, adolescence, and adulthood are typically defined by the same underlying features: changes in mood, thinking, and activity that is sufficient to cause impairment in personal and social functioning.
In children, however, there are important differences, depending on their developmental stage. Children will also vary in their ability to describe their internal world because of their speech and language capacity, their understanding and knowledge, level of distress/disorder, and opportunities of expressing their state of mind.
Children with depression typically find it hard to say positive things about themselves and blame themselves for difficulties in their lives. They are also less likely to talk about subjective feelings and more likely to present with somatic symptoms (eg headache, abdominal and musculoskeletal pain, fatigue).
Children present more with mood lability, irritability, and temper tantrums rather than depressed moods. They may even deny feeling sad, but acknowledge feeling ‘down’ or ‘grumpy’.
Younger children tend not to look depressed. Insomnia, weight loss, and increased or new onset of anxiety symptoms appear more common in younger children, whereas symptoms like increased hunger, sleep, and weight gain is mostly seen in adolescents. Social withdrawal also remains a significant symptom.
What Causes Child Depression?
Many factors may interact with each other to cause childhood depression. Biological, psychological, and social factors interact differently in different individuals leading to manifestations of depression. Studies have shown that childhood depression has a genetic predisposition and that if a family member or a parent has a history of depression it is likely that their children may suffer from the disorder too.
It was also studied that family interactions that were characterized by conflict, rejection, less expression of affection, problems with communication, abuse, and less support also led to depression in children. Specifically, maternal depression has been observed to be significantly associated with depression in adolescents.
Stressful life events in childhood like bereavement, family disruption, etc have also been shown to cause childhood depression. Maltreated children (including physical and sexual abuse) are at significant risk for the development of several problems, including insecure attachment, poor emotional and behavioral self-regulatory skills, and lowered cognitive functioning further leading to depressive episodes in children (1).
Physical and lifestyle conditions may also cause depression in children, especially in adolescents. Conditions that affect physical appearances like obesity, being underweight, presence of facial acne and facial/body hair, etc may cause comparisons between children and their peers. This may cause depression if not addressed in time.
What Should I Do if I Think My Child Is Depressed?
In the case of mental disorders, prevention is always better than cure.
The consequences of childhood depression may be worse if it is not treated in time. It is recommended that you pay proper attention to the mental health of your child to avoid such conditions. The mental status of a child may become fragile if they are subjected to stress they cannot handle.
You have to talk to your child and spend time with your child to understand what is going on in their life. This will help you understand their mentality and level of thinking. They will also get a person to vent out their feelings and lighten their emotional burden thus avoiding episodes of depression.
If you still feel that your child is going through a depressive episode it is recommended that you first and foremost take an appointment with a child physician or child psychologist to understand what exactly is going on. They may help in diagnosing the type and stage of depression or even refer the child to a psychiatrist who may further evaluate the condition.
Based on this evaluation, a further mode of treatment may be suggested which may be one or a combination of psychotherapy and medication. The prescribed treatment modality should be followed by the parents and the child for the given period to avoid remission.
Conclusion
As a parent, it is normal to worry about the mental health of your child but similarly, as a parent, it is your duty to accept the fact if your child is suffering from depression and understand the signs and symptoms instead of brushing them away. Sometimes it gets hard for a parent to acknowledge that their child may be going through an emotional turmoil.
Understand that, your role as a parent in your child’s mental health has to be that of someone who will be considerate towards them in the most non-judgmental manner. Only then will they be able to openly talk to you about their feelings without feeling guilty. Look out for the subtle signs and behavioral changes. Depression among children is treatable do not give up on them!
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Author: Dr Pooja Nilgar (Content writer and editor)
References
- Charles, J. and Fazeli, M., 2017. Depression in children. Australian family physician, 46(12), pp.901-907.
- Malhotra, S. and Das, P.P., 2007. Understanding childhood depression. Indian Journal of Medical Research, 125(2), p.115.
