Key points about depression in children and young people
- depression is a serious illness that can make it hard to do everyday activities
- it is important to get help if you are worried your child could be depressed
- there are effective treatments for depression
Depression in children and young people
Lots of tamariki (children) and rangatahi (young people) feel sad or upset some of the time. They may think everything is going wrong with friends, at school or at home. But depression is different from feeling sad or miserable. It's an illness, and the symptoms can last for a long time. Depression can make it hard for a child or young person to carry out their everyday activities.
Signs and symptoms of depression
The symptoms of depression are often different for different people.
Common symptoms of depression in tamariki and rangatahi include:
- feeling miserable and irritable and unable to cope
- anger and rage
- overreaction to criticism
- low self-confidence
- feelings of helplessness, hopelessness and guilt
- difficulty experiencing pleasure like they used to
- trouble sleeping or waking up earlier than usual
- changes in appetite
- frequent complaints of physical illness (such as headaches, stomach aches)
- poor concentration, memory and decision-making skills
- being overwhelmed and thinking negatively about the future
- acting out
- refusal to work or cooperate
- thoughts of suicide and self harm
- loss of sexual desire in teens
Depression in young people is different to adults
Depression in tamariki and rangatahi is different from adults. Tamariki and rangatahi may be more irritable and act out, rather than appear sad. They might also feel better with friends or when doing things they enjoy. Then, they can feel very sad and hopeless when alone or bored, instead of feeling down all the time.
Some tamariki may not be able to express in words how they are feeling because of their age. Tamariki and rangatahi may also deny they have a problem or 'put on a happy face'. They may worry that others will think there is something wrong with them or won’t understand how they feel.
It is important not to see symptoms of depression as 'just being a teenager' or a phase they will grow out of. This is not the case. Depression is a serious illness that needs the right treatment.
The signs and symptoms of depression can be the same as other conditions such as anxiety. Professional help is important for a proper assessment.
How common depression is in young people
Depression is more common in rangatahi than tamariki - it affects about 120% of rangatahi.
Tamariki and rangatahi who are at higher risk for depression are those who:
- are very stressed
- have learning or behaviour difficulties
- have experienced a loss
Causes of depression
There are several factors that can cause depression.
Depression can run in a whānau (family). Having a family history can make someone vulnerable to developing depression.
Depression is usually set off by stressful life events. For tamariki and rangatahi this is often due to stress around:
- family
- friends
- relationships
- school
Often it is a combination of these things. Alcohol and drug use, as well as physical illness can increase the chance of depression.
How to support your child with depression
In this video demonstration with actors, a father talks with a friend and then with his son. This shows how to start the conversation and support your child if you are worried they may be depressed. A professor of child and adolescent psychiatry explains why the positive methods shown here are good ways to start tackling teenage depression.
Source: Raising Children Australia
Recognising and treating depression early improves the chances of recovery. Talk with your child or young person and suggest it might help them feel better by getting some help.
Other things you can do to support them include:
- ask what they need - don’t make assumptions
- listen with open ears
- be patient with them
- learn about depression, especially if you haven’t experienced it yourself
- do things together, such as going for walks together
- keep them involved in whānau activities
- encourage a healthy sleep pattern
- give practical support, like driving them to activities
- offer to go with them to see a health professional
Online Tools To Support Mental Wellbeing
Helplines & Mental Health Support Services
When to get medical help for your child with depression
If you think your child may be depressed and their symptoms last over 2 weeks, see a health professional. It is important to one who understands depression in tamariki and rangatahi. A physical health check is also a good idea. This is to make sure there is no other illness causing the symptoms.
Going to your family doctor or nurse is the best first step. They can give you advice about where to get more help. This may involve seeing a counsellor in the community. Or it may involve seeing a local child and adolescent mental health service. They can provide specialist assessment and treatments. You could also encourage your teenager to talk to their school counsellor.
Helplines & Mental Health Support Services
Depression management
The 2 main researched treatments for depression are psychological therapy and antidepressant medicine. Medicine is usually suggested when psychological therapy hasn’t worked or when depression is more severe.
Psychological therapy
Psychological therapy can help people learn new ways to overcome depression. The focus of therapy is on thoughts, feelings and behaviours. Therapy can teach young people new ways to deal with difficult situations. It can also help change the way they think about events and situations.
Antidepressant medicine
Antidepressant medicine influences the chemicals in the brain to improve a person's mood. It can be helpful for moderate to severe depression.
A health professional needs to prescribe this medicine. Your child needs to take it for a number of weeks to feel a difference. People usually keep taking the medicine for several months.
Antidepressant medicine is not addictive. Your health professional will explain how the medicine works. They will also talk about possible side effects. These don't usually last long and you can usually manage them easily.
A video of Sofia talking about her experience of depression and the things she found helped her overcome it.
Source: The LowDown
Explore more mental wellbeing videos and stories about whānau, identity, grief, depression and anxiety on the Lowdown website.
Find out where to get help if your child or young person is having a mental health emergency.
Find out where to get non-urgent support for your child.
Various digital tools, apps and programmes can help tamariki and rangatahi struggling with their mental wellbeing. These interactive programmes teach them skills to help them if they are feeling down, depressed, anxious or stressed.
