Does Your Child Have Depression?

Depression isn't just a case of the blues or a bad attitude. It's the leading cause of disability worldwide, and plays a role in 90% of suicides. A mix of insecurity about their own parenting and skepticism about how hard life as a kid can really be conspire to convince many parents that their child is not actually depressed. But depression is common among children and teens, and early intervention isn't just good parenting; it could save your child's life. Left untreated, depression gets worse, and can even lead to health problems such as cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Knowing the signs of depression can help you intervene before it's too late 

Other Symptoms

Depression manifests differently in every child and teen. Some cry all the time; others bottle up their emotions. Some other symptoms to watch for include:

• Increased conflict with friends or family
• Increased anger, especially among teenagers and boys
• Breaking up with a significant other for no apparent reason
• Reckless or dangerous behavior in a previously cautious child
• Lack of motivation
• Behavior problems at school
• Abuse of alcohol, prescription pills, or street drugs
• Self-mutilation in the form of cutting, hair-pulling, disordered eating, or suicide attempts
• Thoughts of suicide