Depression in children

Depressio n in Children

By Roshin Ibrahim

Sometimes, parents may ignore the depressive symptoms that their child may be showing. It may be because they assume their child is either seeking for attention or is just lazy. Yet, depression occurs in 1-2% of children before puberty. Depression can be found in pre-schoolers and prepubertal children. What is depression? It is an illness that affects the body, mood and thoughts of the person which leads to appetite loss or gain, sleep dysfunction and low self-esteem. Depressive disorders are characterized by mood changes that affect a person’s daily functioning. How can we identify Depression in children? Depressive disorders in children do not have a specific cause, rather a play of both nature and nurture. The symptoms of not having fun, difficulty concentrating, guilt, sleeping problems, and eating problems are all too common in children. In pre- pubertal children, depression is often genetic, and these children have other disorders such as conduct or behavioural disorder. Most importantly, family history of depression is the biggest risk factor for children. If your parent is depressed the child is more likely to develop depression. One of the most common symptoms of depression in children is irritability but they may also show symptoms that are present in adults, such as: sadness, lethargy, anhedonia, feelings of worthlessness or guilt and engaging in self destructive behavior (conduct disorder). Furthermore, psychological contributors to depression may include low self-esteem, negative social skills, being unable to deal with negative events or trauma, neglect from parents and peers, and social bullying. Additionally, depression may develop due to other mental health problems such as children who suffer from Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), anxiety, learning disabilities, cognitive problems and conduct disorder may develop depression. Other factors that could lead to a child developing depression could be poverty, exposure to violence, parental conflict, disrupted families and divorce. Children with depression may also exhibit the following symptoms:

 Impaired performance of school

 Boredom  Aggression  Impatient  Frequent physical complaints such as body pains, stomachaches, and headaches  Reckless behavior towards themselves  Young children may act younger than their age (regression).

Why Do Children Get Depressed? Children are dependent on their parent for most of their needs to be satisfied therefore a significant source of depression is disrupted families. Poverty, abuse, or neglect can reset the children’s stress response which can trigger depression. Secondly, the loss of a parent or a beloved is another source of depression. Furthermore, developmental and learning problems can affect the child’s sense of self and make way for depression. In most rural areas it has been noted that children are put into difficult situations at a young age which causes them to make mature decisions even before they have come of age, this robs them of the pleasures of being a child and could lead to depression. Types of Depression in Children Children may suffer from episodes of moderate to severe depression. They may also experience mild to moderate low mood of Dysthymia. Depression may also be part of other mood disorders such as bipolar disorder or side effects to certain medicines such as cold medications which were given at a young age. Depression can also be genetically acquired from the parents. Furthermore, depression can also develop through biological causes such as pre-natal issues, alcohol consumption during pregnancy, low birth weight etc. Biologically, depression is associated with a deficiency of the serotonin neurotransmitter in the brain. This can also be due to the personality type that the child has acquired. However, studies have shown that girls are more likely to be diagnosed with depression and this may be due to the gender differences and their fixed roles in society. How Is Depression in Children Diagnosed and What Treatment is Available? Early detection of depression can help the child to recover sooner as the longer depression goes untreated, the harder it is to treat it. If the symptoms stated above have lasted for at least two weeks, then the parent will have to schedule a visit to their doctor to rule out physiological reasons for the symptoms. The child can be taken to a pediatrician, or a mental health care professional where necessary. Thereafter, a mental health care provider will evaluate your child through interviews and psychological testing to gather information for a proper treatment plan. Treatment options for children are those like adults, which include psychotherapy (counselling) and medication. However, medications may have their share of side effects as such the parent will have to monitor these medications under the care of a professional and talk to them about the risks and benefits to your child. Studies have showed that psychotherapy has a large and lasting effect on the symptoms and is the

most effective treatment for childhood depression. The younger the child is the more important it is to treat them in conjunction with Parent-dyadic Therapy. It has often been noticed that parents sometimes find it easier to deny that their child has depression and may put off seeking medical help because of the stigmas associated to mental illness. But it is very important to realize that the correct treatment at the correct time will help your child to grow in a healthy way both physically and emotionally. Ignoring depression is never a wise step, particularly in children. If it remains untreated it could last for an average of four to eight months which can affect the child’s learning abilities, academic performance and relationships with family members and peers. This can also lead to having relapse episodes throughout their lifetime and creating a much more significant problem. Therefore, both the quality of parentchild communication and type of family environment are important, hence maintaining it well can help prevent depression. If there are tensions in the house, it is advised to sort them out, address and reduce them preferably without the child’s knowledge. Additionally, if your child is suffering then support Is very crucial for them, let the child know that you are aware of their struggles, and they can come and talk to you about them, so they know they are not alone. Parents can help children understand their feelings and talk them out of it. A nurturing parentchild bond is the best form of home treatment for young children. This involves outdoor activities, exposure to adventures and sunlight and quality time with the parent. These are natural antidepressants.

Roshin Ibrahim