5 Signs of Depression in Children
As 2021 continues to roll on by, we as a society have steadily become more aware of our individual mental health. Mental health awareness is just as important as our physical health and it is crucial for us to take the time to address it if we feel we must. Depression affects adults of all ages, but it often afflicts a much younger age group. Children, particularly those entering their teenage years, tend to exhibit bouts of depression when they feel isolated from their peers. In fact, loneliness is experienced by 80% of the population under 18 years of age.
It is always a positive thing as a parent to be there for them and be their number one support system. In today’s blog we have compiled a short list of what to look out for and how you can help children overcome or manage depression.
Withdrawal is the number one thing to look out for. When you see your child continuously alienating his or her self, it usually is a clear sign that something is wrong. Be a friend. Be open to things they enjoy doing and encourage them to do what makes them happy when they’re feeling down.
Exhibiting lack of motivation. Kids can often spend hours on the couch if not motivated to do other activities. Incorporating a daily exercise routine such as going for a walk with them or going for a bike ride may help kids come out of their shells and it will help you build a stronger relationship with them.
Eating habits. Some children with depression turn to food as a source of comfort. A sign of this can be the loss of appetite or perhaps they are eating too much and gain weight fairly quickly. Encouraging healthy food choices will sometimes help fix these bad habits. It’s important to tackle negative eating habits at an early age as these can turn into bigger problems later on, i.e. anorexia, bulimia, diabetes, etc.
Hopelessness with life. A lot of kids have a hard time looking at the bigger picture and often find themselves overwhelmed with life. Remind them that tomorrow can be a better day if they work towards it. A positive attitude and willingness to go out of your way for them will encourage them to do the same.
Finally, the one no parent wants to really think about. Thoughts of suicide and death. In this particular one we highly recommend the help of a licensed professional. Remember the national suicide prevention line is 1-800-273-8255. They offer help in English and Spanish.
As parents we often think distracting our kids will offer them the best support. Most kids just want to feel like they are being listened to and their feelings are being acknowledged. Encouraging your child to have honest and open conversations with you will help them feel connected in the place they should consider their safe haven, their home.
Once they feel comfortable discussing things with you, you can then encourage your child to reach out and make new friendships. Often, a good way to do this is by looking for like-minded children that share the same passions or hobbies as them. Suggest joining a club at school or encourage sleep overs, so they may meet local kids and learn how to interact with their peers. If your child is in the autism spectrum, this is also a suggested way for them to make friends and practice what we teach them.
As the world of speech pathology begins to expand we here at South Florida Speech Solutions will venture out with our blog now and then and try to address different challenges that affect our youth. As new data is presented to us, we will keep our records updated and inform you of what we have found. As the saying goes, “It takes a village to raise a child”.
Thank you for joining us once again on our blog. We look forward to hearing from you.
Interested in joining our growing team? Please send your Speech Language Pathologist resume to: info@southflspeech.com.