„Depression” - Its Many Children Faces
Luca Evans
Depression is a medical illness that can negatively impact how you feel. Depression can cause feelings of sadness or loss of interest in outdoor activities. Depression can happen as a reaction to something like abuse, the stress in school, or the death of a relative. Depression is very common in adults. However, more and more children suffer from this condition. Children's depression diagnosis is relatively new. What horrible thing could have happened so that a child starts suffering from depression? Are they lazy or is it just a whim that a teen behaves so strangely? That was common thinking in the last century. We have to realize that until the end of the XX century children were not diagnosed with depression at all.
It can come as a surprise to many that, as you read that article, 3-5% of children suffer from depression. Moreover, by the time somebody turns 18, 20% of that young age group will have had at least one episode of depression.
Depressive symptoms usually occur:
In 0,3% kids of kids in pre-school;
In 2% children of children in primary school;
In 4-8% of teenagers between the age of 13-1.
Dolnośląska Szkoła Wyższa carried out research in April 2020 in a group of 400 people. There were more than 100 teenagers in that group and 44% of them suffered from depression. Younger children (boys or girls) suffer less from depression than teenagers. When teenagers start to grow up, the frequency of teenagers suffering from depression increases. The research shows that the first episode of depression occurs in teenagers between 11 and 15 years old. Problems with sleeping and eating usually tackle girls rather than boys. The research also shows that depression will come back to around 70% of teenagers within the next five years. Depression symptoms in teenagers often include unusual irritability, angry outburst, fatigue, lack of energy, lethargy, aches, stomach issues, less interest in spending time with friends or family, lower grades, negative or critical self-talk, talk about death, dying, or suicide.
It is of high importance for parents to realize that a child may suffer from depression. It is also of high importance for parents to ask themselves a couple of questions:
Is my child different than before?
Does my child behave differently?
Why does my child rarely meet with their friends?
Does my child suffer from an eating disorder?
Does he/she feel guilty about everything?
Why did my kid's grade drop?
Do I think that my child is lazier than before?
If the answers to those questions are „Yes" then it is a high possibility that the child suffers from depression.
How can we help?
For a start, we have to STOP saying the following:
„Pull yourself together.”
„You will get through it.”
„I know people who are much worse than you.”
„Stop feeling sorry for yourself.”
„I was moody all the time when I was a teenager, but I grew out of it.”
„Oh, it's not that big of a big deal.”
To help a person who suffers from depression, we have to observe and try to understand them, we have to ask and keep asking. We have to find time for a quiet conversation, we have to be ready to listen and help them get the help they need. But what is most important is that we should accept a person for who she/he is.
I would like to give my special thanks to Ewa Chmurska (psychologist) who provided me with data relating to the research. And also, to my aunt Joanna Petersen for being my editor.
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