It’s no secret that kids these days are more stressed than ever before. According to holistic mental health experts, three primary things are causing kids the most amount of depression and anxiety. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at those three things and provide some tips on how to help your child overcome them
What is depression?
Depression is a mood disorder that can cause someone to feel sad, irritable, or hopeless. It may affect your sleep, appetite or relationships with others. Depression can also cause you to lose interest in hobbies or activities you once enjoyed. In severe cases, depression can lead to thoughts of suicide.
Depression is typically diagnosed if symptoms last two weeks or longer. It should only get evaluated, diagnosed and treated by a healthcare provider. Although depression is a serious medical condition, it’s usually treatable.
Depression could be caused by any combination of factors that relate to physical health, life events, family history, environment, genetic vulnerability, and biochemical disturbance.
In children, depression, and anxiety often go hand in hand. Anxiety is a medical condition that causes feelings of fear, panic or worries about everyday situations. Sometimes, depression or anxiety in children gets chalked up to “growing pains.” But if you have any concerns about behavioral or mental health, talk to a healthcare provider.
What causes depression and anxiety in children?
• Environment (including family problems).
• Family history (others in the family have depression).
• Physical illness.
• Stressful life events.
What are the signs of depression in children?
Parents should look out for the following signs of depression in children:
• Behavioral problems at school.
• Changes in eating or sleeping habits.
• Feelings of sadness or hopelessness.
• Lack of interest in fun activities.
• Low energy levels or general tiredness.
• Mood changes, such as irritability.
What are the signs of anxiety in children?
Signs of anxiety in children may include:
• Anxiety about the future.
• Fear of being away from a parent.
• Physical symptoms of panic, such as sweating or dizziness.
• Refusal to go to school or take part in social activities.
• Worry that a parent or loved one may die.
Should I worry that my child will commit suicide?
National surveys from the government show the overall risk. In 2019, for example, nearly 9% of high school students attempted suicide at least once over a year. Thinking about suicide also continued to rise from previous years . Although less common, young children do attempt suicide as well.
Watch your child closely for the warning signs of suicidal behavior, including:
• Focus on death and dying.
• Giving away possessions.
• Increased risk-taking.
• Self-destructive behavior or self-harm.
• Social isolation.
• Talk of suicide or hopelessness.
While the causes of depression are many and varied, there are a few key things that seem to stand out as making kids most depressed these days. We’ve talked about some of them in this blog post, but if you’re concerned that your child may be struggling with depression, please don’t hesitate to reach out for help. The team at Axis is here to support you – we want to make sure every kid has a chance to thrive, regardless of the challenges they face. Please contact us today if you have any questions or concerns about child depression.
