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All of us feel sad at times, but this feeling usually subsides after a few days. But when you notice that your child’s “blues” are not going away, look out: he or she may be under a state of depression.

Depression may affect your kid’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being. A depressed child may encounter difficulties in establishing healthy relationships with family and friends, may withdraw from social activities, and may have trouble dealing with schoolwork.

Some children with depression may even go as far as use drugs or alcohol or worse, attempt suicide when they reach the age of 12 and above. It is for these reasons that you should help him or her fight depression as early as you can.

To find out if your child has this mental disorder, take your child to a doctor for proper diagnosis. Your kid’s doctor will usually look for emotional displays of sadness and low mood.
Watch out for Indications of Depression

Although the condition may manifest itself in different ways from one person to another, the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) web site lists down these common symptoms of depression:

1. Ongoing sad, anxious or empty feelings
2. Feelings of hopelessness
3. Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
4. Feeling irritable or restless
5. Loss of interest in activities or hobbies that were once enjoyable
6. Feeling tired all the time
7. Difficulty concentrating, remembering details, or difficulty making decisions
8. Not able to go to sleep or stay asleep (insomnia); may wake in the middle of the night, or sleep all the time
9. Overeating or loss of appetite
10. Thoughts of suicide or making suicide attempts
11. Ongoing aches and pains, headaches or digestive problems

Note, however, that not all kids with depression have all these symptoms. Each child will display different symptoms at different times and settings.

Early Diagnosis of Depression will Hasten the Treatment Process

The bottom-line here is that once you suspect your child may be having more “blue” days than usual, get help right away. Don’t be indifferent or unconcerned. Very crucial to the treatment of depression is early detection.

Once diagnosed, you can start your child on treatment. Psychotherapy and medications are commonly used treatments for depression. Nutrition experts like Dr. Joseph Mercola also recommend using high quality fish oil and krill oil supplements, which are fortified with powerful omega-3 fatty acids, to help treat depression.

Do you want to read more on childhood depression and other health topics? Check out the other articles on this site for further information.

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