There is a common misconception that children do not suffer from depression. However, this is not true. Child depression is different from adult depression so it must be treated differently. Parents should note that is children are sad; this does not mean that he or she is depressed. If the symptoms of depression last for a very long time, it is prudent for you to consult a skilled and experienced psychiatrist for depression. He or she will create a customized treatment plan for your child.
Dr. Jonathan Lauter MD – How do you know that your child is depressed
Dr. Jonathan Lauter MD is an esteemed and skilled child psychiatrist based in New York. He is a clinician at Refuah Health Center at Spring Valley and has many years of experience in the field. He says parents often view the depressed behavior of their child as a passing field. However, this will not be good for the mental health of your child. This is why you should talk to your child and find out the cause of depression. The following are the main symptoms of childhood depression that are commonly found-
- Social withdrawal- depressed children often do not like talking with their family or friends. They prefer staying alone and quiet. The child might feel worthless and refuse to participate in social activities with children of his or her age.
- Low energy and fatigue- Depressed children have low levels of energy, and they complain of fatigue, aches, and pains in the body like stomach ache, headache, etc. They are very vocal and cry a lot. They even contemplate thoughts suicide and death.
- Guilt and worthlessness – Children that suffer from depression often face a lot of guilt and worthlessness. This is why they are morose and sad all the time. There have been cases where children under 12 have attempted suicide because they are depressed for some reason. Most of the time environmental factors are responsible for the depression of the child. So, here you must make sure that you monitor any kind of abnormal behavior in your child.
You may ignore the cause as nothing but to a child who is still in the developmental stage, the feelings of depression is real. So, do not wave off the issue or consider that the issue your child faces is minor.
Dr. Jonathan Lauter MD says if your child is sick, you must consult a healthcare professional for mental health. Talking with your child and spending time with him or her can combat depression. In case, the symptoms of depression in your child lasts for more than two weeks, it is prudent to consult a skilled and experienced professional for consultation. The doctor will conduct a series of mental health evaluations for your child. A customized therapy and treatment plan will be created. Child depression can be treated and so if your child is sad or depressed for an extended period of time, seeking help from an experienced professional will help you address the mental health of your child’s face.