In recent years, the spread of depression and the threat of suicide among children and adolescents has become a source of concern and danger. Depression affects their emotional well-being, worsens their psychological state, and deteriorates their social relationships, in addition to their poor academic performance. It is necessary to understand how to identify children’s depression and provide parents with the necessary support for them, so the seventh day presents, in the following lines, some important tips about children’s depression referred to by psychologist Muhammad Mustafa.

Signs of depression in children

In his interview with “The Seventh Day” the psychologist said: “Before treating depression, it is necessary to know its signs. Most of the time, recognizing children’s depression is difficult, because it appears differently from adults, and therefore parents must remain vigilant and pay attention to any behavioral or mood changes that appear in their children, and symptoms include the following: sleep disturbances of both kinds, excessive sleep or anxiety, eating disorder and a change in weight, either by increase or decrease, isolation and withdrawal from social activities, loss of interest in hobbies, in addition to a state of depression.” Continuous sadness with feelings of despair, difficulty concentrating, irritability, low self-esteem, and decreased academic performance. Therefore, after recognizing all these symptoms, appropriate support and intervention must be provided, especially if children express thoughts of suicide or self-harm.

Create a supportive environment

He continued: “A supportive environment must be created within the communities of children suffering from depression, especially their homes, as it is a key point in helping them fight depression and prevent the risk of suicide. and build their resilience.

Communicate and listen carefully

And he continued: “Communication with children is very important and necessary to treat and avoid depression. Encouraging children to express their feelings creates a safe space that makes the child feel comfortable, which makes him express his feelings and fears, and while the child expresses that, it is important to listen carefully without judgment, while showing empathy for what they say. This process strengthens the bonds and strengthens the relationship between you and your child, and it also creates an environment in which they feel comfortable and reassured, in addition to playing an important role in enhancing and alleviating their sense of isolation and enhancing a sense of confidence.”.

Prevention and awareness

Prevention is always better than curative intervention, and to effectively support children suffering from depression, it is necessary to educate caregivers about mental health and the risks of disorders, by means of positive parenting methods that help the child to grow in a healthy way, that state of awareness will work to break the stigma surrounding mental health issues, and enable us to create an environment in which children feel comfortable seeking support.

Seek help from a specialist

He says: “Raising awareness and understanding mental disorders, especially among children, is important and difficult. Therefore, it is important to seek professional help when dealing with children’s depression and suicidal thoughts. It is necessary to consult a doctor or psychotherapist who specializes in working with children and adolescents.”.

He continues: Dealing with depression in children is according to a multiple approach, which requires a collective effort to achieve, including parents, mental health professionals, as well as teachers.

Depression in children and methods of treatment

A child suffering from depression