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It's a frightening fact that more and more children are suffering from depression. And statistics show sufferers are getting younger. Recognising the signs is the first step to getting the right help

In the adult world, there's no longer any stigma surrounding depression. Increased awareness and improvements in treatments mean we no longer whisper about people suffering with their 'nerves'. So why are we shocked to discover that our children can suffer from depression too?

According to Young Minds, the national association for child and family health, as many as 100,000 children under the age of 12 are believed to be suffering from depression at any one time. Yet adults are reluctant to accept that children have darker feelings, says Peter Wilson, Director of Young Minds. 'Children increasingly have to deal with loss, pressure and anxiety', he says. 'Yet unlike an adult, a child doesn't have the wider context in which to see their problems. As well as being unaware of the support available, they find it difficult to articulate their distress.'

A three-year study by The Mental Health Foundation, called The Big Picture, concludes that children are becoming less resilient and less able to cope with the ups and downs of life. Statistics show that two million children attending GP surgeries have some form of psychological or emotional problem. Until recently, adults decided what children were or weren't allowed access to,' says Peter Wilson. 'Now, TV, film and computers have taken away the distinction between childhood and adulthood. There's no fading out of childhood into adulthood and children are being traumatised by it.'

Young people are also under pressure from family breakdown, their parents, own stresses, an increasing pressure to conform, with the right trainers, mobile phone and so on, and to do well in national curriculum tests.

Jim Wilson, a family therapist from Barnardo's, The Family Institute in Cardiff, says parents need to bring out these negative feelings.
Use drawings or stories and TV programmes which relate to your child?s experience as a way into discussion. Talking can often be enough to start lifting a child's depression.

By goodtoknow

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