Depression
What does depression look like for your kid?
Depression goes beyond feeling temporarily sad or anxious. A kid who is depressed might be feeling overwhelmed, tired, or hopeless. They might also be unfairly blaming themselves for their circumstances and the way they feel. Understanding and identifying depression in yourself can be a tough task, especially for kids.
It's important to observe any changes in your child's behavior, appetite, energy level, sleep patterns, and academic performance to understand if they might be depressed. Reaching out to your kid and making sure they feel secure and comfortable in opening up to you is essential. It's also important to take care of yourself and your own emotional wellbeing while on the journey of treating your child.
Actions to start a conversation
Express concern that your kid seems very sad. If necessary, you may need to help your child understand that complaints about not feeling good physically (feeling tired, lethargic, or having trouble concentrating) may be their way of letting you know that they're not feeling good emotionally.
Actions to do while listening
Don't rush the conversation or be afraid of tears or intense sadness. Let your kid express themselves, and then tell them that you're grateful that they would share their feelings.
Actions to understand
Ask if there's something in particular that caused the feelings of deep sadness, and if there's anything that would make them feel better. You may also want to ask, gently, if your kid has had thoughts of hurting themselves or what that dark place looks and feels like for them.