If a mother is not interacting with her baby properly, this can trigger depression in the infant. A therapist will watch the mother and toddler play together and then give feedback to the mother on how to interact more fully with her child.
Slightly older toddlers are encouraged by watching therapists to draw or play with small toys. This tends to reveal what they are worried or feeling depressed about and the therapist can then help them work through this.
If your child's school is part of the problem - for example they are being bullied or are having trouble with their school work - then they might see an educational health worker as well as a counsellor.
If your child is severely depressed, they may be prescribed antidepressants. These are drugs that work by altering the chemical changes in the brain thought to be responsible for causing depression. Your doctor will discuss with you and your child whether they need antidepressants or if an alternative treatment may be more suitable.
Antidepressants take a few weeks to work, so your child may still seem as if they are depressed for a short while after they start taking the drugs. If they still appear to be depressed after this time, ask your doctor if their dose needs to be increased or if they need different medication.
If you are unhappy with the thought of your child taking antidepressants, ask your doctor if any alternative therapies are available. The Royal College of Psychiatrists says cognitive behavioural therapy - a type of counselling and life coaching - is one of the most effective ways to beat depression.
More information
The Mental Health Foundation has a booklet called 'The Anxious Child' that covers a lot of information useful for children suffering from depression. You can download it for free from their website on www.mentalhealth.org.uk.
YoungMinds runs a parent advice line on 0800 018 2138 or you can visit their website on www.youngminds.org.uk for more help and advice.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists has produced a booklet called 'So Young, So Sad, So Listen' that you can order by calling 020 7235 2351 or visit www.rcpsych.ac.uk.
If your child wants to talk to someone else without giving their name, they can call Childline on 0800 1111, Careline - a confidential telephone counselling service - on 020 8514 1177 or the Samaritans on 0345 90909.
What causes depression in children?
Some people might say that children cannot suffer from depression as they do not have the same pressures and worries as adults. But children have their own problems which can trigger their depression.
Some common causes are family problems, divorce or separation, death or illness in a parent or close relative, harsh discipline or abuse at school or at home, exam fears, bullying and traumatic experiences like a fire or a burglary at home.
Many toddlers become very attached to the people who look after them. If they become separated from that person - even for a short while - they can become very anxious and upset.
These fears usually disappear as they get older, but if a parent or close relative dies or leaves for a signigicant period of time, their feelings of being abandoned can trigger depression.
Babies and toddlers can also develop depression if their mother - or primary carer - also suffers from depression. There is some evidence that depression may be genetic and runs in families.
If the mother is suffering from depression - or does not have competent parenting skills - she may not be interacting effectively with her young child. This apparent lack of affection can trigger depression in the toddler.
When a child of any age sees their parents arguing or fighting this can make them feel insecure and they may feel as if they are to blame for the rows. They could also feel as if they have to take sides in the arguments, which is confusing and hurtful.
If the parents get divorced, this feeling of divided loyalties becomes more intense and children may fear being abandoned by both parents.
One parent may turn to the child for support and start to criticise the absent partner. This can make the child feel guilty for still loving the absent parent and their feelings can trigger depression.
Worries about school work and exams are well recognised as leading to depression. Depressed children often tend to be perfectionists and have very high standards for themselves.
They may feel that if they do not score highly in exams they are a 'failure' and so need to work even harder to achieve the results they want. This added pressure can make them feel they will never be 'good enough', leading to depression.
Bullying is a common cause of depression. Sometimes it can be difficult for parents to understand how upsetting bullying is when
Family rows can trigger
childhood depression
it is 'only' teasing or name calling. But it is very distressing for children and can lead to later problems in life.
Many adults who were bullied as children can develop depression, lack of self-confidence and feel anger towards the bullies and the adults who did not help them.
Many of these feelings of anxiety and depression are a normal part of growing up and dealing with different people and situations. So why don't children just grow out of them?
'Unless they are very resilient, children will not always be able to cope with their feelings,' says Anna Olek. 'An untreated problem does not go away and depressed children often end up as depressed adults.
'But it is difficult to work out whether is just a phase or whether it needs treatment. If you are worried about your child, talk to them and make an appointment with your GP if you think they need it.'
How can you spot childhood depression?
The Royal College of Psychiatrists warns parents that recognising depression may not be easy.
A depressed child will be sad and miserable for weeks or months at a time with little change from day to day, but they may also have other symptoms that you need to look out for.
Babies and toddlers
YoungMinds, the children's mental health charity, advises parents to look closely at their toddler's behaviour as it is going to be difficult for someone that young to talk about how they feel. Instead, they will express their emotions in other ways.
Depressed toddlers might be clingy but are unresponsive or take no notice when parents comfort them. They may refuse to eat and find it hard to settle down at night and for naps.
Older toddlers might be tearful and clinging and can lose their appetite. They may wake up during the night or suffer from nightmares and become very demanding or start showing destructive behaviour.
Sometimes their development might slow down too. For example, they could forget their toilet training and start bedwetting for longer than you might think is normal.
Older children
Depressed school children may find it hard to concentrate and can lose interest in their work and play. Many children complain that they are bored, but this normally means when there is nothing to do.
If there are activities for them to do, but they do not want to take part and still complain that they are 'bored', this could be a sign of depression.
They may refuse to go to school and become irritable and difficult to control while others could lose their self-confidence or become reckless and careless.
Younger children may find it difficult to talk about how they feel so will show it through their behaviour. They could blame themselves if things go wrong - like a divorce - and if they are feeling bad, they may look for punishment by stealing or playing truant from school.
Teenagers
Teenagers can be often moody and aggressive but YoungMinds warns that it is important to know the difference between normal teenage blues and actual depression.
Signs that a teenager may be suffering from depression are when they are extremely moody and irritable, if they give up interests or hobbies and do not find a new one, if their school work starts to suffer or they find it hard to concentrate and if their friends still call
Older children may
withdraw from friends
round but they do not seem interested in going out with them.
Teenagers have a reputation for long lie-ins but excessive sleeping can be a sign of depression, as can not sleeping enough or having irregular sleeping patterns.
Parents may find the clothes their teenagers wear atrocious, but if your child starts to lose interest in their own personal appearance or - the opposite - become obsessed with losing weight or being clean, this can be another sign of depression.
Self-harm (cutting the arms, stomach or thighs) or suicide attempts are a very real part of teenage depression. The Royal College of Psychiatrists says one in seven deaths in the 15 to 19-year age group is due to suicide.
Some suicide attempts are not the result of depression but an impulsive act by angry teenagers, but if your child expresses any suicidal thoughts or feelings, they should be taken very seriously.
Has my child got depression?
If your child is showing one or two of any of the above symptoms, this does not necessarily mean they are suffering from depression but parents do need to ask themselves when they should start to worry.
'One symptom on its own means it is unlikely that your child has depression. It is about how extreme that problem is,' says Anna Olek from the Mental Health Foundation. 'You have to ask, 'is my child getting on with their life despite the problem or is it holding them back?'.'
If they seem to be withdrawing from life or their symptoms are preventing them from leading a normal childhood, then it is worth asking a mental health professional for their opinion.
Make an appointment to see your GP with your child and they may refer you to a specialist for their opinion. |
