Depression
Such a difficult topic, but one that affects many teenagers, with more young people today being affected by depression...
Such a difficult topic, but one that affects many teenagers, with more young people today being affected by depression and likely to self-harm than 10 years ago. If your child has signs of depression, then it can be so hard to watch as a parent and often you feel helpless, but like many illnesses the important thing is to get help early to try and prevent it becoming a long-term problem. What are the signs of depression in children? These may include: A low mood, or sadness that won’t go away Irritable or grumpy all the time Not being interested in things they use to enjoy Tired and exhausted a lot of the time You may also notice your child has issues with some of the following too: Sleeping, either sleeping more than usual or trouble falling asleep Concentration, difficulty in staying focused Interact less with both family and friends Indecisive Lacking confidence Change in their eating patterns, either eating too much or too little Weight changes, usually linked to a change in their eating habits Unable to relax or more lethargic than normal Feeling of guilt or worthlessness Unable to feel emotions, feeling empty, numb Have suicidal thoughts Self-harming You may have also noticed a change in your child’s behaviour at school and they may be experiencing behavioural problems. What causes depression ? Depression can be triggered by a single difficult event, or it could be a mixture of things.
The following can increase the risk of depression in children: Family difficulties Bullying Physical, emotional or sexual abuse A family history of depression or other mental health issues How to help your child If you do think your child is suffering with depression, then talk to them and if they do open up about what is troubling them, then take it seriously, it may not seem like a big deal to you, but to them it could be huge. If your child won’t talk to you then encourage them to talk to someone, whether that’s a friend, a teacher at their school or a family friend, but let them know you are concerned and there when they need you. It may be worth talking to your child’s school or speaking to other people who know your child to see if they too have noticed any issues or concerns. If you don’t feel you are getting anywhere, then make an appointment to see a GP with your child.
This will let your child know how seriously you are concerned about them and that you want to help.
Hopefully their doctor can refer them for specialist help, if you don’t get the help you need, then speak to another doctor.
It may also be worth talking to your child’s school if you haven’t already, as they too may be able to refer your child for help.
There is help available, so if you don’t get the answers you need then keep asking and good luck.
https://www.bristol.ac.uk/alspac/news/2019/depression-on-the-rise-in-teens.html
Such a difficult topic, but one that affects many teenagers, with more young people today being affected by depression...