Being a parent of a depressed kid or teen is tough. Not only are you worrying about your child, but you might even blame yourself for their sadness. However, depression is no one’s fault and can be caused by several factors, including brain chemistry, hormonal changes, life and school stress, or even an underlying medical condition.
It’s important to remember that depression is a medical condition that affects kids and teens just like it does adults. The good news is that it’s treatable, and our team at Just 4 Kids can help.
While symptoms of depression will differ depending on the age of your child, these are some common signs you can look out for:
Is your child or teen eating more than usual, or does their appetite seem reduced?
Is your child or teenager sleeping much more than they usually do? Are they having trouble getting to sleep or waking up during the night?
Have you noticed a change in their school, club, or athletic performance?
Does your child or teenager lose their temper more easily than usual?
Is your child or teen suddenly uninterested in the things they usually love to do?
Is your child or teen always feeling down, even when they can’t pinpoint exactly what’s wrong?
Does your child or teen show physical symptoms such as a change in their appearance, unexplained aches and pains, or even self-harm?
Does your child or teenager avoid spending time with their friends, loved ones, or other members of their community?
There are many reasons for depression in children and teens, including:
Depression is a real health issue that affects many young people, and understanding what your child is going through is the first step to helping them. What matters is ensuring they get the support and care they need to start feeling like themselves again.
If your child is struggling with depression, our mental health experts at Just 4 Kids can help. We offer compassionate, age-appropriate support from experienced pediatric mental health providers. Our treatment approaches are designed to be effective with younger people.
We offer a range of professional mental health services, such as depression evaluations, therapy (virtual or in-person), and referrals to other services if needed.
It can be confusing for parents to know when to reach out for support from a pediatric mental health specialist. Typically, the following criteria can help you make that choice:
For the best outcomes, it’s always best to seek help for your child sooner rather than later.
It can be difficult to tell whether your child is depressed or just going through a phase, but typically, if they have shown symptoms for two weeks or longer, it’s a good idea to get them checked out.
In some cases, medication is a beneficial treatment for depression, especially when combined with additional approaches such as CBT. However, there are also plenty of non-medicated options that a pediatric mental health professional can discuss with you.
Medications usually take 4-6 weeks to kick in, and therapy that runs for 3-6 months or more tends to be the most effective at creating lasting change.
Depression is not a childhood phase; it’s a legitimate condition, and the longer it goes on, the more likely it will have a significant impact on your child’s life. That’s why it’s important to get your child help and support for the depression as early as possible.
Being a parent of a depressed child or teen is hard. But there is hope. Help your child see the light at the end of the tunnel by scheduling an appointment today at (208) 534-7881. Same-day appointments are available both in-person and virtually at our Eastern Idaho locations.
(208) 534-7881
