Have you ever been diagnosed with depression?

.......what you should know about your children and your family.

Studies have shown that depression tends to have familial links and the incidence of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) among children of parents diagnosed with MDD has been found to be as high as 45% (1). Depression in children is under-identified, and only about 25% of depressed children of parents with depression receive treatment (2). Studies have also shown that the risk of undertreatment can be reduced through teaching parents ways of increasing resilience in their children.

 

Is my child depressed?

..... Frequently asked questions by parents.

• What is the most important thing we can do as a family? It is important for families to recognize depression and see it as an illness. It is also important to get medical treatment for the depression early and stay with treatment until the depression is resolved.
• Is it important to have family meetings at home? Family meetings are helpful when you are ready and comfortable. Focus on one issue only, and have both parents and all children present. For example, the issue may be the parent's current treatment program, or one issue going on in the family. Not everyone has to speak at the meeting, but it is important that all the children hear that the parent's depression is not the children's fault.
• What can we do to help our children through this? Children need to have friendships outside the home. They need to spend an appropriate amount of time outside the home in school activities, extra activities in sports or the arts, and religious programs. Parents can encourage and suport this. Most important of all, children need to understand what the illness of depression is, in language they can understand.
• What else can I do to help our children? It is often helpful for kids to have another adult in whom they can confide. Do what you can to foster such relationships with extended family, teachers, coaches, etc. Also, kids need continuing and frequent reassurance that they are not to blame for their parent's depression.
• What can I do to help myself? Recognize your own limits and go easy on yourself. Spend time with your children and ease up on household and volunteer commitments. Remember, you don't have to do it all!
• What can I do if our child seems to be showing signs of depression? Know the signs to watch for, such as withdrawn or moody behavior, changes in appetite or sleep, loss of interest in activities previously enjoyed, low energy, decline in school performance, and talk of suicide. Talk of suicide can be an emergency, so please seek help immediately.

 

(1) Birmaner, B., Ryan, N., Williamson, D., Brent, D., Kaufman, J., Dahl, R., Perel, J., Nelson, B. (1996) Childhood and adolescent depression: a review of the past 10 years. Part I. J. American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 35: 1427-1439.

(2) Beardslee, W., Wright, E., Salt, P., Drezner, K., Gladstone, T., Versage, E., Rothberg, P. (1997) Examination of children's responses to two preventive intervention strategies over time. J. American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 36: 196-204.