Feeling sad or down is something everyone experiences, both children and adults, especially when life is stressful or upsetting. But if those feelings last a long time and start to affect your daily life, it might be depression. This illness is less common in children under 12, but it becomes more common as they get older. According to the NHS, almost one in four teenagers will show signs of depression before they turn 19.
Signs to look out for
If you know the signs to look out for this may help with getting the right support for your child as early as possible. The NHS Depression in children and young people web page, states that the following may be signs of depression in children:
- sadness, or a low mood that does not go away
- being irritable or grumpy all the time
- not being interested in things they used to enjoy
- feeling tired and exhausted a lot of the time
The NHS also state these may be signs of depression in children:
- have trouble sleeping or sleep more than usual
- not be able to concentrate
- interact less with friends and family
- be indecisive
- not have much confidence
- eat less than usual or overeat
- have big changes in weight
- seem unable to relax or be more lethargic than usual
- talk about feeling guilty or worthless
- feel empty or unable to feel emotions (numb)
- have thoughts about suicide or self-harming
- actually self-harm, for example, cutting their skin or taking an overdose
What you can do to help
It can be very hard for your child to put their feelings into words, but it is important that they let someone know how they are feeling. Parents can help by:
- Encouraging them to talk to someone they can trust, and who they feel understands.
- Helping them to keep as active and occupied as possible and allow time for fun and leisure activities.
The NHS Talking to your child about feelings web page has some helpful tips on how to approach these conversations.
Mindworks Surrey also have some helpful tips on what parents can do to help their children.
This video from Young Minds provides further tips on how to provide emotional support to your child.
What support is available?
If your child's mood doesn't improve or is causing serious problems, it's important to get help.
Mindworks Surrey is a mental health and wellbeing service for children and young people aged 5-18, which offers an array of services. This includes a website containing a wide range of information and crisis support such as a 24/7 mental health crisis line, which is available for children and young people who are worried about themself, a friend, or for parents worried about their child or young person.
There are also a number of services both locally and nationally that can provide support to children and parents.
- Young Mind's Parent Helpline If you are concerned about your or another child's emotional wellbeing
- Family Learning offer a wide range of free parenting courses from Surrey County Council, including on understanding children's behaviour.
- All Surrey residents can Register for free online guides for families. The guides cover a wide range of topics and include tips from childcare, education and NHS health experts. A brand-new course 'Back to School' has recently been added.
Mindworks Surrey also have a section on their website for Parents/Carers and family members.
- Childline is a free, private, and confidential service for children and young people where you can talk about anything. The phone service 0800 1111 operates between 9am and midnight.
- Kooth is a free, anonymous, confidential, safe, online wellbeing service, offering counselling, information, and forums for children and young people aged 11 to 18.
- The Mix offers information and advice about any subject to children and young people from 13 to 25. It provides helpline and online support.
- Hope Again is the youth website of Cruse Bereavement Support. It has been created for young people, by young people. We offer support, advice and a type of signposting service, solely online to children and young people who have lost a loved one/s. We want to break the isolation that grief brings, by providing a space for young people to explore their grief and feel less alone.
- CYP Haven are safe spaces for young people to drop into to talk about worries and mental health confidentially. There is also a phone service and virtual workshops operating alongside the face-to-face sessions. The opening times and phone number are listed on their website.
- Surrey Care Trust offer free face to face counselling to 16 to 25 year olds. The sessions are based in Woking, but the service is open to any young person in Surrey
- Lucy Rayner Foundation counselling services for anyone in Surrey aged 14 to 39 and suicide bereavement services to support families' to come to terms with their loss.
- Heads Together provides free and confidential counselling to young people aged 11-24 in East Surrey, they work in partnership with Mindworks Surrey. They can offer face-to-face, video or telephone counselling sessions to suit you. The counselling is available at various locations