| DEPRESSION in Teenagers and ChildrenA while ago I | | | | who, during a group reading, who used to sit and listen, |
| did a blog about Adult depression. While doing the | | | | now gets up and wanders around.10) Becomes |
| research on Adult depression, I learned quite a bit of | | | | disruptive in class (both teens and children).11) Finds it |
| information about depression in general, in addition to | | | | harder to stay on task. Loses concentration easily; is |
| what I already knew because I suffer from this | | | | mentally confused. Finds decisions difficult to make. In |
| condition myself. What I didn't know, however, is just | | | | a child this might look like the following: unable to match |
| how prevelant this condition is in the population at large, | | | | blocks by color when s/he could before; unable to |
| and in children and teens in specific. One source said | | | | choose between playing ball and jumping rope when |
| that depression is close to the top psychological | | | | the child ALWAYS choose playing ball before. You |
| condition in the western world (more about what this | | | | can think of your own examples, I'm sure.12) Cannot |
| means in a later blog; it'll take a whold blog to talk | | | | remember commitments - doesn't keep appointments |
| about what this means).This article will cover the | | | | (teen). As a child, forgets to bring papers home when |
| following: teenager and children depression statistics; | | | | s/he ALWAYS used to do so; forgets home address |
| teenager and children - specific depression symptoms | | | | telephone number when s/he has known them for |
| (for "general" symptoms, check out the Adult blog), | | | | months/years; etc.13) Has difficulty staying still or |
| and, what you, as the parent and/or gaurdian, can do if | | | | conversely, is lethargic (sluggish). This would apply to |
| you recognize the symptoms in one of yours. | | | | both a teen and a child. You can picture, in your mind, |
| (Remember, the following information comes from | | | | the teen or child in constant motion; twitching, shaking a |
| many Internet sources.)TEENAGER AND CHILDREN | | | | foot, or both feet; handling things; etc. OR, the teen or |
| DEPRESSION STATISTICSAs many as 8.3% of | | | | child who sits or lays with that thousand yard stare |
| teenagers in the U.S. suffer from depression. | | | | again. AND, again, this is unusual behavior for your teen |
| Suicide is the third leading cause of death in | | | | or child.14) Changes in relationships with family and |
| teenagers.As many as one in every 33 children and | | | | friends. Usually, this change manifests itself in hostility, |
| approximately one in 8 adolescents may have | | | | or in passivity. Arguing when s/he didn't before; or, |
| depression. (Center for Mental Health Services, 1996; | | | | using the "whatever" answer, when s/he used to talk |
| these data have increased over the past 9 | | | | to you. (Again, don't single this one symptom out; it |
| years).Treatment of major depression is as effective | | | | must be one of many symptoms that your teen or |
| for children as it is for adults. (Dr. Graham Emslie, | | | | child has.)15) Stops going out with friends; shows no |
| American Medical Association, Archives of General | | | | interest in group outings.16) Increase or decrease in |
| Psychiatry, November 15, 1997).Twenty years ago | | | | sexual activity (hopefully, an OLDER TEEN).17) May |
| depression in children was almost unknown. Now the | | | | start associating with a different peer group (that "bad |
| fastest rate of increase in depression is among young | | | | influence" group as a teen; the "rowdy" kids as a |
| people. (I don't know about you, but this statistic scares | | | | child).18) Loses interest in activities which once were |
| me the most!)The statistics on teen depression are | | | | fun.19) More conflicts with parents and siblings than |
| sobering. Studies indicate that one in five (1 in 5) | | | | usual.20) Changes in eating and sleeping habits.21) |
| children have some sort of mental, behavioral, or | | | | Expresses inappropriate guilt, feelings of not being |
| emotional problem, and that one in ten (1 in 10) may | | | | good enough, worthlessness, failure. (I can see this in a |
| have a serious emotional problem.What is even more | | | | teen; not sure how this would look in a child. If you can, |
| chilling is that of all these children and teens struggling | | | | please let us know.)22) Expresses hopelessness and |
| with emotional and behavioral problems, a mere 30% | | | | having nothing to look forward to.23) Speaks in a |
| receive any sort of intervention or treatment. The | | | | monotonous or monosyllabic manner.24) Has a |
| other 70% simply struggle through the pain of mental | | | | preoccupation with self; is withdrawn.25) Cries easily, |
| illness or emotional turmoil, doing their best to make it to | | | | looks sad, feels alone or isolated.26) Has fears about |
| adulthood. Many theorize that this is why the suicide | | | | having to be perfect.27) Fearful of doing something |
| rate in teens is so high. Suicide is the third (3rd) leading | | | | bad. This, in a child, could manifest itself as bedwetting |
| cause of death among young people ages 15 to 24. | | | | after YEARS of not bedwetting; fear of darkness or |
| Even more troubling, it is the sixth (6th) leading cause | | | | "things that go bump in the night" after YEARS of no |
| of death among children ages 5-14.The consequences | | | | fear, etc.28) Incidents of self-injury. Ideas of killing self. (I |
| of untreated depression can be:increased incidence of | | | | have no idea of how this would look for a child, and |
| depression in adulthood; | | | | hope never to have such an idea!)WHAT A PARENT |
| involvement in the criminal justice system; | | | | GUARDIAN CAN DOThe two most important things a |
| or in some cases, suicide.WHAT ARE THE TEEN | | | | parent can do for your child/teen is to first, KNOW |
| CHILDREN DEPRESSION SYMPTOMS?As we see | | | | YOUR TEEN/CHILD'S ROUTINE, AND NORMAL |
| above, treatment (i.e., counseling, therapy, or even | | | | DAILY ACTIVITIES so that you can identify any |
| medical intervention, if needed) for depression is as | | | | changes; and, LISTEN:1) listen when your children talk;2) |
| effective for teens/children as it is for Adults. Let me | | | | listen to their music;3) spend more time with them and |
| state that again; research from a variety of sources | | | | be involved in their activities;4) take them to movies |
| indicates that appropriate treatment for depression in a | | | | and concerts, and discuss them afterward;5) know |
| teen and/or a child is as effective as it is for Adults. | | | | their friends, and listen to them, as well;6) do not lecture |
| So, what, as a parent or gurdian, should we look for? | | | | or offer unsolicited advice, or ultimatums; and,7) do not |
| What are the symptoms of real depression, and not | | | | try to talk them out of their feelings; instead, ask them |
| just a "bad mood"?"Real Depression" - the type that | | | | if they can describe their feelings.It goes without saying, |
| needs immediate and appropriate attention - in | | | | but I'll say it anyway, learn the above symptoms and |
| teenagers and in children is defined as: when the | | | | know your teen/child. Here are some more things that |
| feelings of depression persist and interfere with the | | | | you, the parent or guardian can do.8) If a child, go to |
| teen's/child's ability to function in his/her normal daily | | | | their day care periodically, and lern their routine; ask the |
| activities. This doesn't mean that one should ignore a | | | | teachers to alert you if their routine changes.9) If a |
| teen's/child's bad mood if it lasts for a few days or a | | | | teen, go to ALL of your teen's teacher conferences to |
| few weeks. What it does mean is that, at a minimum, | | | | learn the patterns of the normal school day, and ask to |
| you, the parent/guardian must know enough about | | | | be alerted immediately to changes.10) For both teens |
| your teen's/child's normal daily activities so that you | | | | and children, know their friends; see if your home can |
| can know when there are changes. OK, what covers | | | | become the "gathering place"; get to know the parents |
| "normal daily activities" for a teen/child? (And, in this, | | | | of your child's or teen's friends and agree to let each |
| we are sticking to American generic teens/children, | | | | other know if you see any changes in behavior.11) In all |
| because that's what I am most famaliar with. If anyone | | | | cases, keep a diary of any changes that you see, so |
| can add to this list, please do so.)As you read through | | | | that you will be able to discuss the situation with great |
| this list, remember that your teen/child has to have "a | | | | clarity and specificity with professionals, should the |
| siginficant" number of these symptoms; they have to | | | | need arise.12) Respond with love, kindness, and |
| be ongoing, out of character; and impair the teen's | | | | support if you think that your child/teen is experiencing |
| child's normal daily activities (sound familiar?)1) Snapping | | | | problems that can lead to depression.13) Let your child |
| at people for no apparent reason - being irritable at | | | | or teen know that you are there, whenever she or he |
| everyone.2) Physically or verbally aggressive at | | | | needs you, and do so often and in age-specific (as Dr. |
| everyone.3) Abandoning favorite hobbies or sports or | | | | Phil would say) ways.14) Keep trying, but gently, if your |
| other routine, daily activities.4) Increased passive TV | | | | teen shuts you out (depressed teenagers do not want |
| watching (where the teen/child has that "thousand | | | | to feel patronized or crowded).15) Do not criticize or |
| yard stare" and is not interacting with the programs).5) | | | | pass judgment, once the child or teen begins to talk |
| Increased risk-taking; e.g., dangerous driving; climbing too | | | | (the important thing is that he or she is talking and |
| high in a tree and jumping, breaking something; other | | | | communicating feelings). REMEMBER, NEVER |
| repeated unusually dangerous activities.6) Misuse of | | | | CRITICIZE FEELINGS; everyone has the right to their |
| drugs and alcohol. Particularly teens, who use drugs | | | | feelings, even if you think that they are "wrong". Let |
| and alcohol to "escape". (1)7) Changes in school | | | | them be voiced; if inapproptiate, seek professional |
| behaviors (including training courses and work settings) | | | | assistance.16) Encourage activity and praise efforts.17) |
| for teens; changes in interpersonal behaviors and | | | | Seek help from a doctor or mental health professional, |
| activities in a pre-school setting (i.e., used to like to color | | | | if the teen's or child's depressed feeling doesn't pass |
| and play with clay; now just sits in a corner, holding a | | | | with time (be prepared to list behaviors, note how long |
| stuffed toy and sucking a thumb).8) Frequent | | | | and how often they have been occurring, and how |
| absences from school; poorer grades than formerly | | | | severe they seem - hence, the diary mentioned |
| attained; increase in skipping classes; etc. For a child, | | | | above).18) Do not wait and hope that symptoms will go |
| reversion in activities (i.e., used to color within the lines, | | | | away on their own. Better to seek assistance and be |
| now just scribbling on paper; intentionally breaking | | | | told that your teen/child is fine than to let your teen |
| things, etc.)9) Complains of being bored (teen); a child | | | | child become one of the 70% who never receive help. |
| whose attention waivers when it didn't before. A child | | | | |