Photo by Bonnie Kittle on Unsplash
When people think about depression, they don’t often picture a child struggling with such an emotionally devastating disorder. Some may even forget that depression can occur at any age, starting as young as childhood and early teenage years. Why is this? Well as adults, most people tend to look back at their own years with a sense of nostalgia. This is understandable after all – childhood is supposed to be one of the happiest times of your children’s lives! This is the age for them to have fun and hang out with friends. Similarly, high school is meant to open up the possibility of exciting experiences that comes with their new stage of independence. This is all while being able to remain comfortably under the guidance of their parents (you) and free from any burdens or responsibilities.
However, this idealized version of childhood is not always the case. Some children and adolescents face serious problems that may lead to extreme feelings of sadness and increase their risk of depression.
How Often Does Childhood Depression Occur?
While some people may think childhood depression is rare, unfortunately, more kids and adolescents experience depression in society than typically thought. It is actually estimated that in the U.S., up to three percent of children and eight percent of teenagers experience depression. The good news is that there have been recent efforts to change this misconception. More media platforms are being used to spread awareness about depression and its causes in children and adolescents through social media, television, and film. Although some of this comes with some controversy when done poorly, (think Thirteen Reasons Why), it is important to keep spreading mental health awareness to educate both the young and their parents.
Why Does It Occur?
Factors that cause depression in children and adolescents range. Some may be due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. For instance, one extreme environmental cause could be due to troubling experiences such as child maltreatment, in which emotional abuse or neglect shows the strongest correlation with depression. Some other causes may include personal struggles with disabilities or conditions or family problems at home or with friends at school. Yet, one cause of depression that stands out as common and prevalent is peer bullying.
Childhood Bullying
Approximately one in five students experience some sort of bullying. Children who are bullied are also at a greater risk of developing depression and are more prone to other negative impacts. Bullying can occur either in person or online, which is a phenomenon known as cyberbullying that became popular with the rise of social media. One study found that all types of bullying are associated with an increased risk for suicide, although verbal bullying specifically showed a link to actual suicide attempts. Additionally, another study found that victims of cyberbullying who also were cyberbullies themselves actually presented the highest amounts of depressive symptoms and had low perceptions of their well being.
On the bright side, this same study found that social support plays a large role in determining the impact cyberbullying has on an individual. It was shown that cyberbullying victims who had high levels of support from friends, family, and teachers had fewer depressive symptoms and anxiety levels than those who did not. Increased social support was also positively associated with the students’ rating of their well being, meaning their state of mental health and happiness. Therefore, social support may be crucial in preventing severe depressive and anxiety-related symptoms in children and for increasing their perception of their own happiness.
Recognizing Key Symptoms
It is also important to be able to recognize depression early on. In order to do so, you must know the key depressive symptoms as well as how these symptoms might be different than typical age-related behaviors. The key distinction between depression in adults versus adolescents is that adolescents are more likely to experience irritability and act out in anger at school and/or home. They are also more prone to showing anger instead of sadness, but they can also experience sadness, social withdrawal, low self-esteem, as well as hopelessness and worthlessness as an adult with depression might. One study also found that children and adolescents reporting abdominal pain were linked to depression, anxiety, being a victim of bullying, and general unhappiness.
While during this age, people often think that moodiness and irritability is something that is to be expected and will go away with time, it is significant to note that when your child’s behaviors start interfering with their daily life, something bigger might be going on and you should seek a professional for them. Getting help early should always be a priority, as in some cases they might even be experiencing suicidal ideation.
The Key Take-way
Finally, you might be wondering what is the key takeaway to all of this information? First, given the fact that depression symptoms are different in teens and kids, it is important to keep an eye out for them and recognize signs as early as possible to make sure they are able to get treatment sooner rather than later. Doing so is especially important for making sure their symptoms do not get more severe and is the first step in helping them get better. Additionally, to help decrease any sort of depressive impact, it is important to encourage emotional support within your family and even with their friends to help improve their sense of happiness.
Regardless of a diagnosis, it is important to openly communicate with your kids constantly to ensure they know you are always there for them in their time of need. Knowing they can lean on you for emotional strength and guidance is something that can only work towards benefiting them and their mental health. Overall, recognizing when your child might be experiencing a depressive episode and supporting them consistently is important for both their mental health and safety.
