Mental Health and Wellbeing News

Dear Parents,

As you know I am the Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader and as part of this role I have decided to complete further study in this area to assist the students here at St. Mary’s. I am at present studying a Certificate in Child Psychology which includes a unit on Child and Adolescent Mental Health. I think it is important to include some information around different Mental Health Conditions that are on the rise with children. I am looking at Childhood Depression so decided to include this information for you.

Depression is significant mental health problem in children. It can cause severe problems in other areas of a child or adolescent's life such as relationship difficulties with peers and family members, a disturbed sense of self, and poor academic achievement. It also is often co-morbid with other mental health problems and disorders and so should always be taken seriously. 

Prevalence of Depression in Childhood and Adolescents

Nowadays it is widely accepted that children do experience depression. Most children will feel down at some times without warranting a diagnosis of depression, but it is now estimated that at least 2% of children under 12 years of age will suffer from significant depression, rising to 5% in the teenage years.  More than 50% of adults who suffer from depression state that their early symptoms started before the age of 20. 

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is a formal classification of mental health disorders, featuring symptoms, diagnostic criteria, culture and gender-related features, and other important diagnostic information.  In other words, the DSM is a tool and reference guide for mental health clinicians to diagnose, classify, and identify mental health conditions.

Depressive Symptoms 

It is not always easy to identify depression in children. The DSM states that the child must show:

Depressed or irritable, cranky mood.

Loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities. 

And other symptoms such as the following:

Significant weight loss or decrease in appetite.

Insomnia or hypersomnia.

Psychomotor agitation or retardation – psychomotor retardation involves the slowing down of thought processes and physical movements of the person. The person may show visible slowing in their speech and emotion. Psychomotor agitation is when the person appears agitated, moves more quickly, speaks more quickly and so on, such as rapid pacing, rapid talking.

              Fatigue or lack of energy.

Feelings of guilt and worthlessness.

Indecisiveness and decreased concentration.

Recurrent thoughts of suicide.

Besides the DSM symptoms, the child may also show some of the following:

Persistent sad or irritable mood.

Vague, no specific physical complaints.

Frequent absences from school.

Poor performance at school.

Being bored.

Alcohol or substance abuse.

Increased anger, hostility, or irritability.

Reckless behaviour.

For a child to be diagnosed with depression they need to show at least one of the symptoms described by the DSM for most days of the week, for most of the day, during the same two-week period. 

If you would like further information on this or have any concerns please do not hesitate to contact me.

Deb Owens

Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader