By Emily Hanlon
The terms ‘anxiety’ and ‘depression’ are often overused these days, but that does not mean they are not genuine mental states which also affect children and adolescents. Depression can be defined as feelings of severe despondency, dejection, and inadequacy. However, depression is a multi-faceted mental health condition. That is, there are many different types of depressive disorders. The most common ‘type’ of depression is known as major depressive disorder. Depression is more than just a low mood, it is a serious mental health condition that affects an individual’s physical and mental well-being. Furthermore, depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide. In a single year, approximately one million Australians will experience depression.
What Symptoms Are Associated with Depression?
For depression to be diagnosed by a clinician, symptoms must be present for two weeks or more. Behavioural symptoms include: loss of pleasure, lack of interest in hobbies, remaining at home, not completing important school/work tasks, withdrawing from family and friends, and an inability to concentrate for extended periods of time. Emotional symptoms include: feeling overwhelmed, irritable, unhappy, disappointed, sad, and frustrated. Physical symptoms include: constantly feeling tired/run down, constant headaches and muscle pains, stomach issues, insomnia/hypersomnia, and changes in appetite/weight.
For those experiencing depression, negative automatic thoughts cloud their thoughts daily. These thoughts can include ‘I’m a failure,’ ‘Nothing good every happens to me,’ ‘Life is not worth living,’ or, ‘I’m worthless.’
One in 33 Australian children is currently experiencing depression. When it comes to identifying symptoms of depression in adults, a few symptoms come to mind easily: loss of pleasure, loss of energy, self-loathing, and sadness. However, depression can present with many different constellations of symptoms, especially in children. Often young children who are experiencing depression cannot recognise or understand what is happening to them, and may not be able to articulate the feelings they are experiencing. Consequently, sadness might not even be overtly present, with irritability/anger being the main symptoms associated with a depression diagnosis. Although it can be easy to miss ‘anger’ as a warning sign for depression in young children, it is important to be mindful of mood changes in your children.
Other symptoms of depression in children include, but are not limited to:
Irritability
Continuous feelings of sadness and hopelessness
Social withdrawal
Increased sensitivity to rejection
Changes in appetite: either increased or decreased
Changes in sleep, sleeplessness or excessive sleep
Vocal outbursts or crying
Difficulty concentrating
Physical complaints (such as stomachaches, headaches) that don't respond to treatment
Even though children and teenagers with depression might be hard to talk to (particularly if they cannot articulate their feelings), it is imperative that an attempt is made to understand what might have set off their symptoms, and what might be maintaining them. When beginning this conversation with your child, the following points are important:
Listen to what your child is trying to tell you without interrupting or reacting in a drastic manner. Avoid reassuring the child that ‘everything will be ok’ until they have finished telling you how they are feeling. Just let them say whatever they can and try and imagine how this might be making them feel.
Once they have finished explaining their situation, you can ask questions. Avoid asking ‘why’ questions as these questions tend to infer judgment. Furthermore, they may not know ‘why’ they feel the way they do, but may be able to articulate ‘how’ they feel or ‘what’ they want to be different.
Children will know you have really listened to them when you repeat the words that they have used.
Drawing how they feel might be a useful tool if children are unable to talk about their feelings/do not want to talk about their feelings.
Sitting down with your child and making them aware that they are not alone, can often be extremely relieving for them. After this conversation has taken place, there are a number of different professionals who may be useful to your child, including a child psychologist.
To find a psychologist near you, visit or access www.psychology.org.au/FindaPsychologist.
For more information on resources surrounding anxiety, you can check out my Anxiety Resource Guide: https://www.theplayfulpsychologist.com/product-page/resource-guide-anxiety
Free Link:
Heads Up! A toolkit of sessions to run with young people to promote mental health and emotional well-being
Scroll half way down the page and click on ‘Click here to view/download’ to download this resource for free.