How to Recognize Depression in Children

Recognizing depression in children can be a daunting task for parents and caregivers. Unlike adults, children may not always express their feelings of sadness or despair in obvious ways, making it challenging to identify when they're struggling with this mental health condition. However, understanding the signs and symptoms of childhood depression is crucial for early intervention and support.

Many people don’t know how to recognize depression in children—likely because childhood is seen as a time of innocence and joy. However, at the North Texas Adult & Child Counseling Center, it’s understood that childhood is a time of incredible physical, social, academic, and environmental changes that can affect children’s mental health. 

Considering the American Psychological Association reports suggesting a rising childhood depression and mental health crisis, it’s crucial to learn how to recognize depression in children and empower them with depression coping skills for kids to help them navigate their big emotions and set the stage for a resilient attitude for years to come.

In this blog, we'll explore the complexities of recognizing depression in children, provide insights into common indicators to watch for, and offer guidance on how to best support a child who may be experiencing this challenging condition.

Understanding Childhood Depression

Part of learning how to recognize depression in children is understanding that children may exhibit symptoms linked to life changes and stressors in distinct ways compared to adults, as their emotional expressions typically differ. Recognizing depression in children entails acknowledging the unique manifestations of symptoms influenced by their developmental stage and communication styles, which may diverge from those observed in adults.

What can childhood depression feel like?

Feeling sad, nervous, or angry from time to time is normal. However, when the lows are more than just temporary, they could be symptoms of depression. Some signs of childhood depression include:

• Excessive sadness. Young people contending with childhood depression may experience constant sadness, cry easily, and seem to have crying spells out of the blue.

• Increased anger and irritability. In some cases of childhood depression, anger shows more than sadness. In younger children aged seven to nine, this may look like tantrums and outbursts that look like troublemaking in class and at home. Pre-adolescent children aged 10 to 12 may look like they’re angrily ‘acting out’ and rebelling, but it may be depression.

• Low self-esteem. Kids dealing with childhood depression may have poor views of themselves. They may hopelessly say negative, self-critical things like, “I can’t do anything right,” “It’s too hard for me,” or “Nobody likes me.”

• Thinking about death or dying. Talk of death and dying can signal suicidal thoughts, which can be a sign of depression. Likewise, having depression can be a risk factor for suicide. As suicide is the second leading cause of death for children aged 10 to 14, learning how to recognize depression in children by noticing talk about or attempts at self-harm and self-destructive behaviors can help you intervene and get professional support for your child in a safe, timely way.

What can childhood depression look like?

Childhood depression differs from child to child but typically involves

• Social isolation and withdrawal from interests and activities. One way to know how to recognize depression in children? Look at what they stop doing. Kids who have depression may withdraw from friends, social gatherings, and activities they usually love—often because of anhedonia, a common sign of depression involving lost pleasure and interest in once enjoyable things.

• Changes in appetite and sleeping patterns. Childhood depression may look like eating and sleeping more or less than usual, so take note of any weight loss or gain and sleep issues, as they’re not only a potential sign of childhood depression but also a risk factor for developing depression.

Declining academic performance. A child who isn’t eating and sleeping well is one whose mind and body power aren’t at 100 percent. Childhood depression can drain energy, concentration, and thinking. It can make everything seem “too hard,” causing kids to put little to no effort into studies and other tasks.

Recognize depression in children by spotting signs seldom spoken about

Part of learning how to recognize depression in children is learning to give attention to uncommon signs like:

• Excessive, compulsive behaviors. Researchers have studied associations between excessive social media use, gambling, or online shopping and depression. Be watchful of this, especially in 10 to 12-year-olds who may have more internet access.

• Daydreaming. Daydreaming is something generally harmless we all do from time to time. Maladaptive daydreaming, however, refers to daydreaming for hours to cope with a problem. This isn’t an effective depression coping skill for kids because maladaptive daydreaming can cause significant emotional distress and impair daily functioning.

Poor hygiene. Have you noticed consistently unbrushed teeth, uncombed hair, and an unwashed face? Poor hygiene can be a way to recognize depression in children because a kid or pre-teen dealing with childhood depression may think, “What does it matter if I don’t wash myself?” or “Why brush my teeth if I don’t even want to live?”

Connect your child with a counselor who knows how to recognize depression in children and help them feel better

Unsure how to begin safe, judgment-free conversations about depression with your child? Consider consulting a licensed mental health professional. If you’re in Northwest Tarrant County, you can visit the North Texas Adult & Child Counseling Center. Here, a dedicated, compassionate therapist will be ready to provide the client-centered therapy your child needs in sessions of:

• Individual therapy. The counselor will encourage children to practice positive self-talk and learn how to recognize their strengths in ways that can improve self-esteem. Mindfulness techniques like meditation and deep breathing that help with anxiety and stress management can also be a part of therapy.

• Parenting Support. Your child will be encouraged to discuss emotions with you and other trusted adults. Doing so can help them understand and process their thoughts, feelings, and actions. With the help of the counselor, you can discuss anything in your home environment that may be triggering depression and establish a routine of regular meal times, playtime and activities, bedtimes, and more to create a sense of stability.

In therapy at the North Texas Adult & Child Counseling Center, your child will receive compassion, guidance, and depression coping skills for kids to effectively express their emotions and cope with challenging situations. Your job is to validate their experience and affirm them with support in and out of the therapy room.

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It’s hard to think of children and pre-teens being distressed or depressed, but it’s crucial to be aware of the reality of childhood depression. Learning how to recognize depression in children can help you prioritize their well-being and provide them the support they need when navigating life changes. If you’re a parent in Northwest Tarrant County, consult the North Texas Adult & Child Counseling Center for expertise. Here, you and your child will learn and be encouraged to implement effective depression coping skills for kids that will ensure your child thrives mentally and emotionally.