10 Signs of Depression in Children and How to Help Overcome It!

1. Feelings of deep sadness or depressed mood that last most of the day (for two weeks or more). To children, they may be more irritable than sad.
2. Less interest in activities (again most of the day or all the time).
3. Significant weight loss (not through diet) or decreased appetite. In children, they fail to gain the expected weight as they grow.
4. Difficulty sleeping (insomnia).
5. A slowing down of psychomotor skills/actions or an apparent agitation of these psychomotor skills. This means that they have moments that are purposeless and seem to have been made because of agitation and tension, or there is significant sluggishness/delay in their speech and physical actions.
6. Fatigue and loss of energy.
7. Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt every day.
8. Difficulty thinking, making decisions or concentrating every day. This can be reflected in your grades.
9. Worry about death and dying or suicidal thoughts.
10. Please note that if your child is grieving the loss of a loved one and is going through stages of grief, it is normal to have these signs of depression in children .

How to help your child with depression:

Depression should not be taken lightly. Especially if there are suicidal thoughts. A child’s feelings and emotions are real and should be taken seriously.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), suicide is the second leading cause of death for individuals between the ages of 10 and 34. Professional help is recommended if you believe your child meets the criteria for MDD (Major Depressive Disorder).

You can take your child to the pediatrician for an evaluation and referral. Depending on the severity of their symptoms, they may benefit from medications such as antidepressants.

Most professionals do not dispense medication as the first remedy for depression . Instead, therapy is the first line of defense against depression , with medication being combined with therapy if therapy is not enough or symptoms are severe enough.

Test:

There are assessment tools that professionals can use to help properly determine if your child is depressed. In addition, the three tools used in the assessment of depression in children are:

• Childhood Depression Rating Scale (CDRS);
• Childhood Depression Inventory (CDI);
• Clinical Global Impression (CGI);

Taking your child to a professional mental health counselor, psychologist, or psychiatrist can help ensure proper testing and evaluation takes place.

Therapy:

There are many types of therapy available today. In addition, it is important to find a professional who specializes in childhood depression and its treatment.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is one of the main therapeutic methods in the treatment of childhood depression . For young children, play therapy is helpful in treating childhood depression , as children tend to communicate better through play than conversation alone.

What can parents do at home to help their child?

In addition to seeking professional help, there are a few things parents can do at home to help their depressed child:

1. Talk with your child about his or her feelings in a compassionate and empathetic way:

It can feel a lot of pressure to sit face-to-face and ask your child about his or her feelings. However, walking, playing a board game, or playing with your child (choose whichever is most appropriate for them) can allow them to relax and open up about their feelings.

Ask your child open-ended questions that require more than a simple yes or no to engage in more meaningful conversations. Also, never judge while they are being open and honest with you because this will inevitably cause them to shut down and stop being open with you.

2. Provide activities that help them relax and de-stress:

For younger children, there are simple ways to help them relax. Also, provide leisure opportunities that they find relaxing, such as coloring, painting, playing with toys or clay, or playing with sand and sand toys. Again, find activities that interest your child and that are age-appropriate and helpful in letting them relax.

3. Limit screen time:

Technology is not helpful in making your child less depressed. It can often be an escape that prevents them from opening up even more about their feelings and emotions.

Limit time in front of TV, laptop, smartphone, video game and tablet, etc. All electronics that appear to prevent your child from face-to-face interactions should be limited. Additionally, researchers have found that children with higher levels of screen time are at greater risk for anxiety and depression .

Provide alternative activities to replace screen time, such as hiking, crafting, drawing, building, cycling and outdoor fun, etc. Some children may be so dependent on screen time as their source of entertainment that they may need you to participate in alternative activities alongside them in order to engage in the activities.

You can’t just tell your child to go out and play if you’re suffering from depression , don’t have friends, and are used to sitting and playing video games every day after school. Also, go out with your child and take a nature walk or take them to a playground and have fun together to get them involved in these alternative activities.

4. Promoting outdoor time and physical activities:

Encourage your children to participate in activities that especially involve nature, such as nature walks. Do these activities with them to help them get involved in the activities. Again, this is an opportunity for open conversations and quality time.

5. Help your child when problems and difficult tasks arise:

Help them by helping them break the task down into smaller, more manageable parts. Additionally, children with depression often have difficulty taking on big problems and tasks and find them overwhelming.

Helping them break the task down into smaller, more manageable tasks will help build their confidence when the small tasks are mastered.

Small tasks mastered lead to larger tasks being mastered over time. It’s a process over time, patience and a willingness to work alongside your child. Furthermore, this does not mean performing the task or taking over the problem solely for you.

Often, all your child needs is for you to break down the larger task into smaller, more manageable tasks, and for you to patiently talk to your child as you complete these smaller tasks.

6. Help your child reduce stress in life:

When children are depressed, they find it more difficult to cope with the activities of life in general. Also, cut back on activities that cause increased stress and look for ways to help reduce the stress in your child’s life.

7. Promote a positive home environment:

Reduce or eliminate negative attitudes, language and conversations. Also avoid raised voices, passive aggressive behavior and any form of physical violence in the home.

Make your home a safe haven for your child rather than an ever-volatile atmosphere (in words, emotions, or physically). Also, create a calm environment that makes your child feel safe mentally and emotionally and physically.

8. Help your child to see the positive in life situations:

Point out the positive aspects of a situation rather than the negative ones. Help them see the bright side of any situation. Model seeing the bright side of life by speaking words that are uplifting, encouraging and positive. Also, resist the temptation to express negative thoughts that come to mind, as your child can feed on your emotions and words.