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Childhood is suppose to be a fun and carefree period in life,

it is sad to see that there are children suffering at such a young age.

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    Depression treatment for children: What works?

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    Depression treatment for children: What works?

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Counseling may help a child who suffers from depression.

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This Website answers the question of why some children suffer from depression.

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This Website answers the question of why some children suffer from depression.

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Depression affects people of every age, economic situation, and race. Even though depression is common - especially in teens - some people get depressed but others don't. Why?

There's No One Reason for Depression

Lots of things influence whether a person gets depressed. Some of it is biology - things like our genes, brain chemistry, and hormones. Some is environment, including daylight and seasons, or social and family situations we face. And some is personality, like how we react to life events or the support systems we create for ourselves. All these things can help shape whether or not a person becomes depressed.

Research shows that depression runs in families. Some people inherit genes that contribute to depression. But not everyone who has a family member with depression will develop it too. And many people with no family history of depression still get depressed. So genes are one factor, but they aren't the only reason for depression.

Brain Chemistry

Chemicals called neurotransmitters (pronounced: nur-oh-TRANZ-mit-urs) help send messages between nerve cells in the brain. Some neurotransmitters regulate mood. When a person is depressed, these neurotransmitters might be in low supply or not effective enough.

Genes and brain chemistry can be connected: Having the genes for depression may make a person more likely to have the neurotransmitter problem that is part of depression.

Stress, Health, and Hormones

Things like stress, using alcohol or drugs, and hormone changes also affect the brain's delicate chemistry and mood.

Some health conditions may cause depression-like symptoms. For example, hypothyroidism is known to cause a depressed mood in some people. Mono can drain a person's energy. When health conditions are diagnosed and treated by a doctor, the depression-like symptoms usually disappear.

Getting enough sleep and regular exercise often has a positive effect on neurotransmitter activity and mood.

Daylight and Seasons

Daylight affects how the brain produces melatonin and serotonin. These neurotransmitters help regulate a person's sleep-wake cycles, energy, and mood. When there is less daylight, the brain produces more melatonin. When there is more daylight, the brain makes more serotonin.

Shorter days and longer hours of darkness in fall and winter may lead the body to have more melatonin and less serotonin. This imbalance is what creates the conditions for depression in some people - a condition known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Exposure to light can help improve mood for people affected by SAD.

Life Events

The death of a family member, friend, or pet sometimes goes beyond normal grief and leads to depression. Other difficult life events - such as when parents divorce, separate, or remarry - can trigger depression.

Whether or not difficult life situations lead to depression can depend a lot on how well a person is able to cope, stay positive, and receive support.

Family and Social Environment

For some people, a negative, stressful, or unhappy family atmosphere can lead to depression. Other high-stress living situations - such as poverty, homelessness, or violence - can contribute, too. Dealing with bullying, harassment, or peer pressure leaves some people feeling isolated, victimized, or insecure.

Situations like these don't necessarily lead to depression, but facing them without relief or support can make it easier to become depressed.

Reacting to Life Situations

Life is full of ups and downs. Stress, hassles, and setbacks happen (but hopefully not too often). How we react to life's struggles matters a lot. A person's outlook can contribute to depression - or it can help guard against it.

Research shows that a positive outlook acts as a protection against depression, even for people who have the genes, brain chemistry, or life situations that put them at risk for developing it. The opposite is also true: People who tend to think more negatively may be more at risk for developing depression.

We can't control our genes, brain chemistry, or some of the other things that contribute to depression. But we do have control over how we see situations and how we cope.

Making an effort to think positively - like believing there's a way around any problem - helps ward off depression. So does developing coping skills and a support system of positive relationships. These things help build resilience (the quality that helps people bounce back and do well, even in difficult situations).

Here are three ways to build resilience:

1. Try thinking of change as a challenging and normal part of life. When a problem crops up, take action to solve it.

2. Remind yourself that setbacks and problems are temporary and solvable. Nothing lasts forever.

3. Build a support system. Ask friends and family for help (or just a shoulder to cry on) when you need it. Offer to help when they need it. This kind of give and take creates strong relationships that help people weather life's storms.

Being positive and resilient isn't a magic shield that automatically protects us from depression. But these qualities can help offset the other factors that might lead to trouble.

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Depression affects people of every age, economic situation, and race. Even though depression is common - especially in teens - some people get depressed but others don't. Why? Lots of things influence whether a person gets depressed. Some of it is biology - things like our genes, brain chemistry, and hormones.

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This Website has fun activities to help children with their depression.

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This Website has fun activities to help children with their depression.

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"The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."- Lao Tzu

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"The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."- Lao Tzu

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"It is a denial of justice not to stretch out a helping hand to the fallen; that is the common right of humanity" -Seneca (Seneca the Elder) Equipment and Initial Settings: Canon EOS 400D (@ 1/60s / ISO 400 / P-style: Monochrome / WB: Cloudy) Canon 70-200 f4 L USM Lens (f4.0 @ 135mm) Canon 430EX Speedlight (Bounced flash directly from ceiling above) Changed the picture style from Monochrome to Portrait in RAW processing and boosted exposure by +1.5 stops as the initial exposure was just a little too dark.

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View more hi-res images @ www.inspirationalpics.com

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More Information on Adolescent Depression

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More Information on Adolescent Depression

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iSEEK - Education - Viewing 'Depression and Disability in Children and Adolescents. ERIC Digest.'

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"Instead of giving myself reasons why I can't, I give myself reasons why I can."~ Unknown 
 
      

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"Instead of giving myself reasons why I can't, I give myself reasons why I can."~ Unknown 
 
      

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"Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it. "~ Helen Keller

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"Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it. "~ Helen Keller

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Explore lisahearts' photos on Flickr. lisahearts has uploaded 558 photos to Flickr.

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Parker gets up pretty high on the rock climbing wall in Colfax, July 2006. Cian tries his hand at it as well, but doesn't get as far.

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Totally Kids Visits CCC Fitness and Health Student

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Explore Community Care College's photos on Flickr. Community Care College has uploaded 2607 photos to Flickr.

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cormac on exercise machine in llamas park

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Things people can do to help treat depression

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Things people can do to help treat depression

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Suicide is the third leading cause of death in youth people ages 10-24

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Explore Lily Zaslavski's photos on Flickr. Lily Zaslavski has uploaded 716 photos to Flickr.

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Depression affects about 2% of preschool and school-age children.

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تشبه توازي دمع عيني .. لي به عطاشا الحب يسقون

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Therapist

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Family Therapists of Erie - Jeffrey Natalie, LSW Child, Marriage, Family and Divorce Expert

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Family Therapy Practice of Erie. A website for family therapy, marriage therapy and child psychology in Erie PA.

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1. How many types of depression are there?

2. How many kids are affected with bipolar disorder?

3. How can depression be treated?

4. What are two ways to help a child that is dealing with depression?

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About Depression

It's normal for kids to feel sad, down, or irritated, or to be in bad moods from time to time. But when negative feelings and thoughts linger for a long time and limit a child's ability to function normally, it might be depression.

Depression is a type of mood disorder. The main sign is when kids are sad, discouraged, or irritable for weeks, months, or even longer. Another sign a kid might have depression is negative thinking. This includes focusing on problems and faults, being mostly critical and self-critical, and complaining a lot.

Depression can interfere with energy, concentration, sleep, and appetite. Kids with depression may lose interest in activities and schoolwork, seem tired, give up easily, or withdraw from friends or family.

When kids have depression, it's hard for them to make an effort, even when doing things they used to enjoy. Depression can make kids feel worthless, rejected, or unlovable. It can make everyday problems seem more difficult than they actually are. When depression is severe, it can lead kids to think about self-harm or suicide.

Recognizing Depression

It can be hard for parents and other adults to know when a child is depressed. An irritable or angry mood might seem like a bad attitude or disrespect. Low energy and lack of interest might look like not trying. Parents (and kids and teens themselves) may not realize that these can be signs of depression.

Because depression can show up in different ways and might be hard to see, it helps to let a doctor know if feelings of sadness or bad moods seem to go on for a few weeks.

Diagnosing Depression and Other Mood Disorders

When diagnosing depression and similar mood disorders, doctors and mental health professionals use different categories. They all have depressed mood as a main symptom, but they develop in different ways. For example:

Major depression is an intense episode of depression that has developed recently and has lasted for at least 2 weeks.

Chronic depression (also called dysthymia) is a milder depression that has developed more gradually, and has lasted for 2 years or longer.

Adjustment disorder with depressed mood is depression that has developed after an upsetting event - anything from a natural disaster to a death in the family.

Seasonal affective disorder is a kind of depression that is related to light exposure. It develops when hours of daylight are shorter; for example, during winter months.

Bipolar disorder (also called manic depression or bipolar depression) is a condition that includes episodes of major depression and, at other times, episodes of mania (emotional highs).

Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder is a pattern of intense, frequent temper tantrums; outbursts of aggression and anger; and a usual mood of irritability that has lasted for at least a year in a child older than 6.

Getting Help

Depression and other mood disorders can get better with the right attention and care. But problems also can continue or get worse if they're not treated.

If you think your child might be depressed or has a problem with moods:

Talk with your child about depression and moods. Kids might ignore, hide, or deny how they feel. Or they might not realize that they're depressed. Older kids and teens might act like they don't want help, but talk with them anyway. Listen, offer your support, and show love.

Schedule a visit to your child's pediatrician. The doctor will probably do a complete physical exam. A full exam lets the doctor check your child for other health conditions that could cause depression-like symptoms. If the doctor thinks your child has depression, or a similar mood disorder, he or she may refer you to a specialist for evaluation and treatment.

Contact a mental health specialist. Depression can get better. But without help, it can last or get worse. A child or adolescent psychiatrist or psychologist can evaluate your child and recommend treatment.

Therapists treat depression and other mood disorders with talk therapy, sometimes medicine, or both. Parent counseling is often part of the treatment, too. It focuses on ways parents can best support and respond to a kid or teen going through depression.

More Ways to Help

Treatment with a therapist is important. But you play an important role, too. At home, these simple but powerful things can help your child deal with depression.

Be sure your child eats nutritious foods, gets enough sleep, and gets daily physical activity. These have positive effects on mood.

Enjoy time together. Spend time with your child doing things you both can enjoy. Go for a walk, play a game, cook, make a craft, watch a funny movie. Gently encouraging positive emotions and moods (such as enjoyment, relaxation, amusement, and pleasure) can slowly help to overcome the depressed moods that are part of depression.

Be patient and kind. When depression causes kids and teens to act grumpy and irritable, it's easy for parents to become frustrated or angry. Remind yourself that these moods are part of depression, not intentional disrespect. Avoid arguing back or using harsh words. Try to stay patient and understanding. A positive relationship with a parent helps strengthen a child's resilience against depression.

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It's normal for kids to feel sad, down, or irritated, or to be in bad moods from time to time. But when negative feelings and thoughts linger for a long time and limit a child's ability to function normally, it might be depression. Depression is a type of mood disorder.

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Jeffrey Natalie, president of eriekids, explains how adolescent depression is different from adult depression.

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ErieKIDS - Child and Adolescent Depression

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www.ErieKIDS.org A discussion on how to help kids with depression and what parents can do.