Depression in Children

A common misconception is that people can’t develop depressive emotions early on in their childhood since they are often perceived to not deal with as much stress and problems as adults do. However, a study published by researchers on behalf of the Yale medical department reports that an estimated 3.2% of American adolescents are diagnosed with depression. While this may not seem like a huge percentage, it is estimated to be around 2-3 million children in the United States alone, not counting those who didn’t get a proper diagnosis or those who don’t live in the U.S. With such a high amount of kids experiencing bad mental health, we must ask ourselves how we can identify these symptoms and what we can do to help children who are currently undergoing mental issues.

Depression looks much more different in kids rather than adults, which can make it harder to recognize. Symptoms in children can include but aren’t limited to increased irritability, loss of appetite, and social withdrawal. Sadly, these behaviors are often dismissed as their regular personality or just general moodiness, hence forcing many  to suffer in silence without getting the mental assistance that they require. 

All in all, childhood depression is a serious concern that isn’t receiving nearly enough attention. It’s important for children to know that their emotional struggles are real and understandable. We can help them pay closer attention to their behavioral changes and take their feelings seriously without judgement. Creating a safe, supportive environment and offering proper, professional help is key to making these kids feel heard. With care and encouragement, we can decrease the amount of adolescents with depression while giving children the chance to live through a proper childhood.