Summertime Sadness Understanding and Supporting Children and Teens Dealing with Seasonal Depression

Factors like summer seasonal depression, lack of structure and socializing, irregular sleep schedules and plain old FOMO can cause kids and teens to display signs of depression during the summer months.

Dr. Paul A. Croarkin, Professor of Psychology at Mayo Clinic College of Science and Medicine and the medical editor of the new My Life Beyond Depression, one in a series of Mayo's My Life Beyond books, says the signs of depression aren't always the same for children as they are for adults.

"Depression may show up differently in kids or teens, compared with adults. It may lead to behavioral outbursts, irritability, negative feelings or thoughts about themselves, and self-harm, such as cutting," says Dr. Croarkin. Everyone’s mood has highs and lows. But it becomes a concern when it starts to interfere with overall functioning.

Dr. Croarkin and his patient, the student Gifty, offer tips for identifying and dealing with summertime sadness.Tips for identifying and dealing with summertime sadness.

• Encourage your child to write or draw in a notebook to get thoughts out on paper and have a creative outlet for their feelings.

• Establish a simple routine

• and take it one step at a time.

"On some mornings, I have a hard time waking up, it feels like something is holding me down," Gifty says. "One way to get started is to pull myself out of bed and get one foot on the floor. Then I get dressed and eat breakfast. The routine helps me get on top of how I'm feeling for the day."

• Allow your child to listen to music on their earbuds, even when it might seem antisocial or rude. Especially in noisy environments, listening to music can help ease anxiety.

• Ask for help when it's needed. "Everyone feels sad or worried now and then, but for kids like me who are dealing with depression, our sad or worried feelings may be overwhelming," Gifty says. "Sometimes you may know how to help yourself feel better, and sometimes you may need to ask for help." This goes for parents, too.

"Help is available. Depression is a mental illness, and it can get better with treatment. Research shows that combining therapy and medication typically gives the best results," Dr. Croarkin says. "To get the most help from therapy, find a therapist you feel comfortable and safe with. Therapy might include psychotherapy, which involves meeting with a licensed mental health provider for structured sessions to learn strategies to address depression symptoms."