Jun 18, 2008

Depression in Children and Teens

I wouldn't be surprised if rates of depression in children and adolescents are far greater than statistics would suggest. It may be hard for children to express themselves and some may be unaware that what they're going through is actually a recognized, treatable illness. They may have picked up on powerful, negative messages surrounding mental health, thereby putting them off coming forward.

Where do these messages come from? We know that children are impressionable but we also know that human perceptions are complex and difficult to measure. Children may pick up messages anywhere, including at home and/or school. The modern media is a likely culprit for perpetuating myths, with many TV shows and films portraying negative images of people with mental health problems.

I think this area needs a much stronger body of evidence in terms of treatment, especially regarding antidepressants, which are currently subject to controversy. I also think that raising awareness on this topic is very important. Depression can be such a miserable, isolating experience. Young people and their carers need to know that they’re not alone – there is support out there.

I’ve certainly seen improvement in child/adolescent psychiatry in the last decade or so, so here’s hoping that a) it’s not my imagination and b) it will continue to improve. There also seem to be heightened awareness, with many online mental health resources being developed for young people. The school counselor was a non-existent job when I frequented the Scottish school halls, but now they seem to be considered essential. I think that’s exactly how it should be.