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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    Can children have depression?

    Related Topics
    Depression Mental Health
    Does depression only affect adults and older teenagers or can children also become depressed?
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  • Renee Mill

    Clinical Psychologist, Psychologist

    Empowering people is my passion and life work. I have been working as a Clinical Psychologist in private practice for over thirty years. I have … View Profile

    Depression can be experienced at any age.

    In young children, it  can be difficult to diagnose depression because young children cannot always explain their feelings. Even verbal children, from age 4, are  often not able to articulate what it is they feel causing them to somatise. In other words, they will say that they have a "sore tummy" when what they mean is that they have a "sore heart."

    Clinicians need to be skilled at diagnosing depression in children. Behaviours, especially behaviours that have changed recently, are the key warning signs. For example, if a child has been a good sleeper and then starts waking at night, it may be a symptom of depression.

    Apetite loss or gain and lethargy are other symptoms to watch out for. 

    I encourage parents to have a feelings vocabulary and to  teach their children lots of different words to explain what they are feeling. Not only does it benefit the child to name a feeling, but it will help the diagnosing practitioner should the need arise. 

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