Knowing the Key Signs of Depression in Children

There’s more to depression than just feeling sad all the time. Symptoms of depression can vary from person to person and range from things such as psychomotor activity changes, which affect cognitive and physical movement, to insomnia and guilt, to name just a few.


One in six people will develop major depression in their lifetime, as it is known to affect roughly 121 million people worldwide. Two out of three people that are diagnosed with depression do not receive adequate or effective treatment for the disorder, which means it grows in severity.

It is a statistical fact that those who suffer from depression are more at risk for heart attack or stroke, when compared to non-depressed individuals. Researchers have actually concluded that some symptoms of depression can even reduce overall physical and mental health.

Sadly, when we think of depression, we usually think immediately of adults. This notion alone is why many adolescent and child sufferers often go diagnosed for an unhealthily long period of time. One out of 10 adolescents will have some form of depression before the age of 18. One of the more common reasons for the lack of diagnoses in younger individuals is because the symptoms present themselves much differently. Childhood depression comes in the form of temper tantrums, social withdrawal and mood swings, all of which are typically attributed to a normal change in hormones or growing into adulthood.

Roughly seven out of 10 people with even the more common mental illnesses get absolutely no treatment. These numbers are far too low, especially because those who are younger need the help and guidance it takes to overcome an illness such as depression. Depression is a large contributing factor to things like suicide and other illnesses that see the body and mind deteriorate. Depression is hard to handle as a fully fledged adult, and dealing with it as a young child is all the more difficult.

Knowing the warning signs, symptoms and triggers for depression in our younger generation is important to helping wipe out the existence of mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety. If anyone you know exhibits signs of depression, it is important to speak with them and consult a medical professional in order to offer a healthy and effective way of dealing with this illness. Letting depression turn into an even bigger ailment for any sufferer should never be an excuse, help is everywhere, utilize it.



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Used under Creative Commons Licensing courtesy of Frances Ellen
