Stop, Think. Was Your Child's Recent Behaviour A Sign Of Depression?

The full-time job of parenting is definitely a challenging task. To understand your kids as they grow through various phases of their lives is crucial, but it's not always easy to figure out their emotions, be mindful of their feelings and what kind of challenges they are facing in their daily lives. Cases of depression in children is no longer just a handful; it has been significantly on the rise in recent years. So as a parent, how do you identify the signs of depression? How do you tell if your child's outbursts are normal or actually a sign of a mental problem?

According to a study done by the University of Michigan, among the top challenges that parents face while identifying depression among the youth is telling the difference between a teen's normal ups and downs from something bigger. 40 percent of parents struggle to differentiate between normal mood swings and signs of depression, while 30 percent are tricked as their child hides his or her feelings well.

The C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health at the University of Michigan is based on responses from 819 parents with at least one child in middle school, junior high or high school.

(Also read: Health Disorders And Sleep, An Expert Joins The Dots)

^{Depression is a mental disorder and affects how you feel and can also cause changes in your body}

Why Do Parents Often Fail To Identify Signs Of Depression?

"In many families, the preteen and teen years bring dramatic changes both in youth behaviour and in the dynamic between parents and children," said poll co-director Sarah Clark. "These transitions can make it particularly challenging to get a read on children's emotional state and whether there is possible depression," added Clark.

According to the researchers, some parents might be overestimating their ability to recognise depression in the mood and behaviour of their own child. An overconfident parent may fail to pick up on the subtle signals that something is amiss.

The poll also suggests that the topic of depression is all too familiar for middle and high school students. One in four parents say their child knows a peer or classmate with depression, and one in 10 say their child knows a peer or classmate who has died by suicide. This level of familiarity with depression and suicide is consistent with recent statistics showing a dramatic increase in suicide among US youth over the past decade.

Rising rates of suicide highlight the importance of recognising depression in youth. Compared to the ratings of their own ability, parents polled were also less confident that their preteens or teens would recognise depression in themselves.

"Parents should stay vigilant on spotting any signs of potential depression in kids, which may vary from sadness and isolation to anger, irritability and acting out," said Clark.

Most parents also believe schools should play a role in identifying potential depression, with seven in 10 supporting depression screening starting in middle school, the study said.

Since it is a well-known fact that prevention is better than cure, it is therefore important to keep a look out for signs of depression before it transforms into something more severe.

With inputs from IANS