Knowing the signs of depression in children is an important step towards being able to get professional help early and prevent it from having a long-term impact on a child's life.
Feeling sad, irritable or in a bad mood is as normal for kids as it is for adults, but when feeling low lasts for weeks or longer, parents may start to worry about their children's mental health. It's not just teenagers and young adults that can struggle with mental health, much younger children can be affected too. In fact, a 2018 NHS study found "a slight increase over time in the prevalence of mental disorder in 5 to 15 year olds", rising from 9.7 per cent in 1999 and 10.1 per cent in 2004, to 11.2 per cent in 2017. This trend has continued, as further NHS research found that in 2022 18 per cent of children aged 7 to 16 years had a probable mental disorder.
Though children may find it more difficult to articulate their feelings if they're struggling with low mood, early detection is important, so you can give them the right support before it escalates. GoodtoKnow spoke to children and young people's mental health charity Place2Be to find out about the signs of depression in children and the steps parents can take if they're worried about their child's mental health. Programme Leader for Family Work Judah Racham and Regional Clinical Lead Cecilia Corbetta explained: "Recognising the signs of depression in children is crucial for parents as spotting the early signs means we can support children effectively and seek help if necessary.
