It can be heart-breaking to see your child coming out of school with shoulders slumped, tears in their eyes, and they’re constantly feeling down in the dumps. When this keeps happening over time – and your child can’t just ‘snap out’ of their low mood – it’s understandable that you’ll start to worry about your son or daughter’s mental health.
Depression is a mental health condition with symptoms of despair, sadness, zapped energy, hyper-sensitivity, and loss of interest in self and the world. Depression is sadly a condition that’s increasingly on the rise among children and adolescents.
Up to one in eight children aged between 5 and 19 had a mental health disorder in 2017, according to statistics from an NHS Digital survey of 9117 children and young people. The biggest increase since 1999 has been in emotional disorders (including depression and anxiety) especially among girls (10%) compared with boys (6.2%). Young people aged 17 to 19 are the most likely to have an emotional disorder (17%). However, one in 10 children aged five to 10 were found to have a mental health disorder.
Here we identify some of the symptoms of depression in primary school children (aged 5 to 11) and in adolescents (aged 12 to 19). We also outline some of the factors affecting children’s and young people’s mental health, and what you can do to support your child.
Depression in primary school children (aged 5 to 11)
Developmental stage
Children are busy acquiring new skills and knowledge, and their important relationships are with family members and teachers. If they are encouraged in their efforts, they can build feelings of competence and self-esteem. If they’re not encouraged, they can start to feel inferior to peers and doubt their potential.
Factors affecting mental health
• Family situations – for example, sibling rivalries, if parents are fighting or separating, or if there is a bereavement.
• Relationships with peers, especially if they’re being bullied.
• Transitions – such as moving home
or schools.
• Physical health – conditions such as obesity have been shown to affect children’s emotional health.
Possible signs of depression
• Loss of interest in friends and activities they used to love.
• Changes to their sleeping and eating patterns.
• Feeling sad or angry.
• Constantly tired, with low energy levels.
• Feeling worthless.
• Becoming disruptive and more difficult
to manage.
What you can do to help
Check how they’re eating and sleeping and make adjustments where you can – and encourage them to be active. Be patient and supportive and offer them the opportunity to talk to you. Seek professional support through your GP or through the many charities offering mental health support to families. (See Resources right).
Therapy for young children often focuses on play therapies – including sand, movement, music, puppets and art – to help them communicate thoughts and feelings. The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) also recommends digital CBT (cognitive-behavioural therapy) for children as young as five on tablets and mobile phones.
Depression affecting adolescents (aged 12 to 19)
Developmental stage
At this stage the child begins to separate from parents and the focus is on relationships with peer groups and finding self-identity. Their brains are also going through major changes at this time. Without the space to work out their own beliefs and values, they can end up feeling confused about their role in the world.
Factors affecting mental health
• Heavy social media use is linked to depression in teens. The pressure to look good, gain likes, comparing themselves with others – all can add up to low self-esteem and poor body image. Disrupted sleep and the risk of cyberbullying are also potential side-effects of too much social media use.
• Exam pressures – from school, parents, and on themselves.
• Family situations – including loss,
divorce, arguments.
• Peer pressure to fit in and belong.
• Sexual pressures and body shaming – including unwanted ‘sexting’.
• Smoking, alcohol and drug taking.
• Changing relationship with their bodies and minds.
Possible signs of depression
• Moodiness and irritability that goes on for some time, rather than in phases.
• Changes in sleeping or eating patterns.
• Completely losing interest in things they used to love and becoming withdrawn.
• Not looking after themselves.
• Self-harming: A fifth of 14-year-old girls admit to self-harming – and one in 10 boys, with rates higher when teenagers are attracted to the same or both sexes.
• Suicidal thoughts: Sometimes thoughts of being ‘better off dead’ can run through a teenager’s mind. But sadly increasing numbers of adolescents are acting on these thoughts and taking their lives.
What you can do to help
Encouraging a teen to talk to you can be a challenge, but there are lots of free, confidential services out there that they can access (See Resources below). Speak to your GP, who can make a referral to CAMHS.
Support your adolescent by continuing to involve them in family life and helping them to remember good times and positive things.
Adolescents can respond well to therapies that offer structure and strategies, such as CBT and solution-focused approaches. Teenagers can also benefit from counselling where they can speak freely, without judgement. This can be liberating for them – especially if expression is restricted, for a variety of reasons, at home.
Resources
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) offers mental health support for a wide range of issues, from depression and anxiety to eating disorders and learning disabilities – as well as a programme of parental support.
Referrals are through your GP.
www.national.slam.nhs.uk/services/camhs
Childline (0800 1111) offers advice and counselling support to anyone under the
age of 19.
www.childline.org.uk
Kooth offers confidential, online mental health support for young people aged 11 to 18. www.kooth.com
Young Minds offers information and resources to support the mental health of children and young people. The parents’ helpline number is 0808-802-5544.
www.youngminds.org.uk
Karen Dempsey is a UKCP-registered psychotherapist in private practice in south London. She is an associate therapist and clinical supervisor with The Awareness Centre, which offers talking therapies seven days a week from its centres in Clapham SW4 and Tooting SW17 and across London through the TAC Directory.
www.theawarenesscentre.com