What medication can help childhood depression?
Medicating depressed children is rare and usually a last resort. However, if your child's depression is severe, medication may be appropriate and should be taken for around six months. Waiting lists for psychotherapy can be several months long and most anti-depressants work within a few weeks. But they should only be prescribed by child and adolescent psychiatrists after a careful assessment.
If an antidepressant is given it will probably be of a type called SSRI (Selective serotinin reuptake inhibitor). These are not tranquilisers and are not thought to be addictive. They work by providing more 'feel good' chemicals to the brain, although they don't help everyone and are not licensed for use in children under 18 unless strictly supervised.
What else can I do?
There are many excellent telephone helplines and support agencies that can help.
More help and advice
- Spotting the signs of depression in teens
- Kids get depressed too
- Ten ways to fight depression
- How to spot a stressed teen
- Find out more about body dysmorphic disorder
- Get the in-depth facts about bulimia and anorexia
Other places to try:
- Young Minds Parents' information service: 0800 018 2138
- ChildLine - Helpline 0800 1111
- Royal College of Psychiatrists
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