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