Factsheet 34: Depression in children and young people: for
young people
About this leaflet
This is one in a series of leaflets for parents, teachers and
young people entitled Mental Health and Growing Up. The
aims of these leaflets are to provide practical, up-to-date
information about mental health problems (emotional, behavioural
and psychiatric disorders) that can affect children and young
people. This leaflet looks at how to recognise depression, and what
you can do to help yourself or someone else who is suffering from
depression.
Introduction
What is depression?
Most people, children as well as adults, feel low or `blue'
occasionally. Feeling sad is a normal reaction to experiences that
are stressful or
upsetting.
When these feelings go on and on, or dominate and interfere
with your whole life, it can become an illness. This illness is
called `depression'. Depression affects 2 in
every 100 children under 12 years old, and 5 in every 100
teenagers.
How do I know if I have depression?
- Being moody and irritable - easily upset, `ratty' or
tearful
- Becoming withdrawn - avoiding friends, family and regular
activities
- Feeling guilty or bad, being self-critical and self-blaming -
hating yourself
- Feeling unhappy, miserable and lonely a lot of the time
- Feeling hopeless and wanting to die
- Finding it difficult to concentrate
- Not looking after your personal appearance
- Changes in sleep pattern: sleeping too little or too much
- Tiredness and lack of energy
- Changes in appetite
- Frequent minor health problems, such as headaches or
stomach-aches
- Some people believe they are ugly, guilty and have done
terrible things
- Not enjoying things anymore.
If you have all or most of these signs and have had them over
a long period of time, it may mean
that you are depressed. You may find it very difficult to talk
about how you are feeling.
What causes
depression?
Depression is usually caused by a mixture of things, rather
than any one thing alone.
Events or personal experiences
can be a trigger. These include family breakdown, the death or loss
of a loved one, neglect, abuse, bullying and physical illness.
Depression can also be triggered if too many changes happen in your
life too quickly.
Risk factors
People are more at risk of becoming depressed if they are under a
lot of stress, have no one to share their worries with, and lack
practical support.
Biological factors
Depression may run in families due to genetic factors. It is also
more common in girls and women compared to boys.
Depression seems to be linked with chemical changes in the
part of brain that controls mood. These changes prevent normal
functioning of the brain and cause many of the symptoms of
depression.
Where can I get help?
There are a lot of things that can be done to help people who
suffer from depression.
Helping yourself
Simply talking to someone you trust, and who you feel understands,
can lighten the burden. It can also make it easier to work out
practical solutions to problems. For example, if you are stressed
out by exams, you should talk to your teacher or school
counsellor.
If you are worried about your health, you should go and see
your general practitioner. Here are some things to remember:
- talk to someone who can help
- keep as active and occupied as possible, but don't overstress
yourself and allow for fun and leisure time
- you are not alone - depression is a common problem and can be
overcome.
How parents and teachers can help
It can be very hard to put their feelings into words, but it
is important to let them know that you are feeling low so that they
can be supportive and help you feel better by
listening.
When specialist help is
needed
If the depression is dragging on and causing serious
difficulties, it's important to seek treatment. Your family doctor
will be able to advise you about what help is available and to
arrange a referral to the local child and adolescent mental health
service.
Many young people will get better on their own with support
and understanding. For those whose symptoms are severe and
persistent, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for 3 months can
help. CBT is a type of talking treatment that helps someone
understand their thoughts, feelings and behaviour (see Royal
College of Psychiatrists
leaflet on
CBT.
Antidepressant medication may also be needed if CBT isn't
enough. Antidepressant medication needs to be taken for six
months after the young person feels better. Mild depression should
not be treated with antidepressants, but instead with general help
and support (see Royal College of Psychiatrists'
leaflet on antidepressants.
There is evidence that some antidepressants called SSRIs
(Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors) can help. For this age
group, fluoxetine, which is an SSRI antidepressant, can be used and
research has shown that the benefits outweigh the risks. None of
the antidepressants are licensed for use in young people under the
age of 18 and should only be used by child and adolescent
psychiatrists, after a careful assessment. Weekly monitoring of how
the young person is feeling will happen in the first four weeks,
and then regularly after that.
References
- Carr, A. (ed.) (2000) 'What Works with Children and
Adolescents?' - A Critical Review of Psychological Interventions
with Children, Adolescents and their Families. London:
Brunner-Routledge.
- Rutter, M. & Taylor, E. (eds) (2002) 'Child and
Adolescent Psychiatry' (4th edn). London: Blackwell.
- Scott, A., Shaw, M. & Joughin, C. (eds) (2001) 'Finding
the Evidence' - A Gateway to the Literature in Child and Adolescent
Mental Health (2nd edn). London: Gaskell.
Sources of further information
- `Changing Minds: Mental Health: What it is, What to do, Where
to go?' A multi-media CD-ROM on mental health that looks at
depression. www.changingminds.co.uk.
- Childline provides a free and confidential telephone service
for children. Helpline: 0800 1111; www.childline.org.uk.
- The Samaritans provide a 24-hour service offering confidential
emotional support to anyone who is in crisis. Helplines 08457
909090 (UK); 1850 609090 (ROI); e-mail: jo@samaritans.org; www.samaritans.org.uk.
- YoungMinds provides information and advice on child mental
health issues. 102-108 Clerkenwell Road, London EC1M 5SA;
- Parents' Information 0800 018 2138; www.youngminds.org.uk.
Or you may want to look at these websites:
- www.depressionalliance.org
- www.thecalmzone.net
- www.thesite.org/info/health/depression
- The Mental Health and Growing Up series contains 36
leaflets on a range of common mental health problems. To order the
pack, contact Book Sales at the Royal College of Psychiatrists, 17
Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8PG; tel. 020 7235 2351 , ext. 146;
fax 020 7245 1231; e-mail: booksales@rcpsych.ac.uk, or
you can download them from this website.
Reviewed March 2009
© 2008]Royal College of
Psychiatrists. This leaflet may be downloaded, printed out,
photocopied and distributed free of charge as long as the Royal
College of Psychiatrists is properly credited and no profit is
gained from its use. Permission to reproduce it in any other way
must be obtained from the Head
of Publications. The College does not allow reposting of its
leaflets on other sites, but allows them to be linked to
directly.
Please note that we are unable to offer advice on individual cases. Please see our FAQ for advice on getting help.
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