Depression
Childhood depression is a serious mental health condition that can have a significant impact on emotional, social, and academic well-being. While it may be difficult to recognize, it is important to address it early to help your child get the support they need.
When your child is depressed, you may notice them crying more often and isolating from friends and ‘fun’ activities. Your depressed child feels empty, irritable, and incredibly tired. Moving through every day is exhausting and things that once excited them no longer seem to bring them any joy. Trying to stay on task with school, extracurriculars and friends while managing intense moods is too overwhelming.
Children who are experiencing depression may experience:
sadness
excessive irritability
isolation
lack of energy/effort
difficulty concentrating at school
sudden weight gain or loss
low self-esteem
being socially withdrawn
trouble sleeping or excessive sleeping
sudden loss of interest in activities
thought of death or self harm
We can work to help your child express difficult feelings and learn the skills necessary to feel happy and make healthy choices. Your teen doesn't have to go through life feeling lonely or misunderstood.