How Does Depression Affect Children

Depression is something that affects children and teens in addition to adults. In fact, 0.5% of kids 3-5 years of age, 1.4% of kids 6-11 years of age, and 5-11% of adolescents 12-17 years of age (shockingly, almost 20% of teenage girls) suffer from depression. Depression can be a family-wide issue, so your son may be at increased risk if a first-degree relative has had anxiety or depression, including postpartum depression. Kids and teens often will not tell you outright that they are depressed, so it can be helpful to know some of the warning signs. Depression can be exhibited differently in kids and teens. In younger children, the symptoms may include: sadness and irritability; increased daytime sleep and less nighttime sleep; no longer enjoying things that made them happy; isolating themselves; fatigue or low energy; exhibiting low self-esteem; decreased focus or drop in grades; complaining of physical aches and pains with no identifiable cause; seeming uncaring about the …show more content…
cutting arms or legs); using drugs or alcohol; and talking about self-harm or suicide. A good first step is to schedule an appointment with your child’s pediatrician or health care provider. He or she should take a thorough history, perform a physical examination, and may order lab tests to evaluate for a medical cause of your son’s depressed mood. Additionally, a depression screening test may be performed to assist in making a diagnosis. It is important to note that asking about suicidal ideation will not increase the risk of it happening. Treatment is approached from multiple sides including psychotherapy, lifestyle changes, and sometimes,