WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT CHILDHOOD DEPRESSION

OVER recent years, there’s been a growing focus on children’s mental health and wellbeing — particularly with the added pressures of things like the pandemic and social media.

According to children and young people’s mental health charity Place2Be, one in five children experience mental health difficulties, with half identifying these by age 14.

To mark Mental Health Week (May 13-19), health experts outline the warning signs that a young person might need extra support...

Can children get depression? Dr Seb Thompson, consultant CAMHS psychologist for Cygnet Health Care, says that in the last five or six years the rates of diagnosable mental health conditions in children and young people between the ages of six and 19 have increased from approximately one in nine to one in six.

“Like in adulthood, there are many types of mental health conditions that can impact children and adolescents, with the most common of these falling within the sphere of anxiety and low mood ,” says Thompson.

“This could vary between mild worries about a particular issue (e.g. school) to diagnosable mental health conditions such as panic disorder, obsessivecompulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, attachment difficulties or depression.

“Other mental health conditions are less common but do have their origins in adolescence, such as psychosis, bipolar disorder or eating disorder.

“Neurodevelopmental conditions, such as autism, ADHD, or Tourette’s, also have their origins in childhood and although they are not mental health conditions, young people with these conditions often tend to have a higher proportion of additional mental health needs.”

Are there risk factors for childhood depression?

Mental health conditions are rarely caused by one single specific trigger or identifiable factor. Instead, there’s usually a combination of things.

“However, we do know that the more adverse childhood experiences that people go through, this increases the likelihood someone will experience mental health difficulties,” says Thompson.

“Adverse childhood experiences can be thought of as stressful and potentially traumatic events or situations that occur during childhood or adolescence that ultimately damage one’s sense of safety, stability and belonging.

“Examples include suffering abuse or neglect, exposure to domestic violence, parental separation or family tension, exposure to drug use, or suffering from singular or multiple episodes of trauma.”

How can you tell the difference between depression or just feeling sad?

Usually, children can tell you a reason for being sad, like the loss of a grandparent, or not feeling happy with friends or school.

“A key alert is when they say they feel sad or low and can’t find anything that explains it,” says Rachel Melville-Thomas, child and adolescent psychotherapist and spokesperson for the Association of Child Psychotherapists (ACP).

“Young people who are depressed are likely to avoid going out and perhaps withdraw from being with the family.

“It is useful to notice how long this situation has been going on. When was the last time you saw them really happy in themselves?

“It is so difficult for young people to describe feelings that seem irrational, that often they may blame physical symptoms like headaches, periods or tummy problems, but these don’t seem to go away as expected.”

How can parents and carers spot the signs?

Melville-Thomas suggests that the need for concern arises when a child isn’t able to move out of prolonged sadness or low mood, and loses interest in activities they previously enjoyed.

“They may also be irritable and tired in an ongoing way — professionals will ask if these symptoms have persisted over at least two weeks. Often, depressed teenagers don’t say they feel anything much, just a sense of numbness or emptiness,” MelvilleThomas explains.

“Depression can also be accompanied by excessive anxieties, and be the underlying reason for changes in eating or sleep patterns.”

Thompson suggests parents and carers ask themself these questions if they’re worried about their child’s mental wellbeing: Are they withdrawing more than usual, or speaking about things less than usual? Has their appetite or sleep patterns changed? Are they doing things to cope that they didn’t previously? Have their thinking styles changed?

What should you do to support them?

It’s really important to listen to them, take what they say seriously, and follow your instincts as a parent or carer when things aren’t right.

“There are plenty of support groups around for parents that can provide some reassurance or strategies that might be helpful,” adds Melville-Thomas.

Usually children can give you a reason for feeling sad