Childhood Depression and impact on Child & Adolescent Mental Health

About one in five Children and Adolescents will experience an episode of depression before the age of 25.  This is the peak age for the onset of depression in adolescence and young adulthood, and most adults who suffer from recurrent depression will have first experienced it during this period. The longer the signs of childhood depression remain undiagnosed and untreated, the longer they will take to respond to treatment. In addition, delays in treatment increase the risk of chronic or recurrent symptoms and negative impact on Child & Adolescent Mental Health. 

Prolonged sadness and loss of interest in activities are symptoms of depression among adolescents, a serious mental health issue. It has an impact on how your child feels, thinks, and acts, and it can lead to emotional, functional, and physical issues. Although depression can occur at any time in life, signs of childhood depression may differ from those seen in adults.

signs of childhood depression include:

• Feeling sad nearly every day for most of the day.
• Lack of interest in routine activities, including hobbies.
• Not wanting to go out with friends, and/or attending school.
• Experiencing loneliness and/or feeling a sensation of helplessness.
• increasing irritability (a common symptom amongst teenagers), often without apparent cause
• disturbed sleep (difficulty falling asleep, oversleeping, night waking)
• alcohol and drug use
• decreased focus and memory
• being generally exhausted
• changes in appetite and/or weight
• nausea and aching muscles
• self-harm and suicidal thoughts