According to Childhood Disorders (American Psychiatric Association), one in ten children between the ages of six and twelve feels persistently sad or depressed. These overriding feelings indicate that the child is probably suffering from depression. Childhood Disorders provides a list of behaviors that parents should watch for:
- A sudden drop in school performance
- Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed
- Outbursts of shouting, complaining, unexplained irritability, or crying
- Thoughts of death or suicide
- Expression of fear or anxiety
- Aggression, refusal to cooperate, antisocial behavior
- Use of alcohol or other drugs
- Constant complaints of aching arms, legs, or stomach with no apparent cause
Dr. David Satcher, the surgeon general of the United States released a report entitled, “Agenda for Children’s Mental Health.” The report states that while one in ten children suffer from some sort of mental illness, only 20% receive treatment. This failure to obtain treatment is due to a lack of awareness about depression. If parents, educators, health care workers, clergy and others who work with children aren’t aware of mental illness issues – such as depression – they don’t consider them when dealing with a troubled child.
Additionally, the stigma that still exists in our society about people who have mental illness may prevent a parent from seeking help for their child. They don’t want people to think their child is not okay. This report also points out that even if a parent is willing to obtain help for their child’d depression, they often find it impossible to obtain help. In fact, some parents have had to give up custody for their child to a state agency in order to obtain needed in-patient care.
Dr Satcher stated, “Growing numbers of children are suffering needlessly because their emotional, behavioral and developmental needs are not being met by the institutions and systems that were created to take care of them.”
In commenting about this issue, the editors of the Deseret News (January 6, 2000) stated, “One point is abundantly clear, society will pay for the lack of treatment one way or another. It makes sense from a public policy standpoint to attempt to address small problems early on before they mushroom into large, expensive ordeals.”
If you feel that your child might have depression, please speak to a doctor right away!
