SingaporeMotherhood | Parenting

October 2018

Depression in Children: Signs, Causes and Solutions

Depression in children is on the rise, and more kids in Singapore are seeking help for mental health issues than ever before. How do you tell if your child is battling depression and how can you help?

Child Guidance Clinics at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) saw an average of 190 new patients with depression per year from 2013 to 2016. That means that 190 children and teenagers aged six to 18 years old are diagnosed with depression every year at the IMH alone. Yes, depression can affect children too. And just like a cancer, if left untreated, depression can continue to worsen. It can even lead to death.

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In fact, suicide is the leading cause of death for Singaporeans aged 10 to 29 years. According to the Samaritans of Singapore (SOS), a total of 61 adolescents and teens aged 10-19 years took their own lives from 2015-2017. The SOS hotline received 2,060 calls from those aged 5-19 years in fiscal year 2017/2018, a whopping 84 per cent increase from 2012. Tinkle Friend, a helpline for primary school children in distress, received a total of 3,551 calls and online chats in 2017, and already 4,193 in just the first three-quarters of 2018.

(See also: Child and Adolescent Suicides: How We Can Help Prevent It)

Spot the Warning Signs

depression in children - fragileSource

It’s not always obvious when a child may be struggling with depression. Furthermore, working parents may not even have the chance to spend enough time with their children to notice anything amiss. These are some warning signs to look out for:

  • Expressions of stress, fear, anxiety or worry
  • Often sad or lethargic, struggling to concentrate
  • Becoming withdrawn and avoiding social activities
  • Repeatedly complaining of stomach aches or headaches, to avoid attending school or other activities
  • Displaying defiant or aggressive behaviour, often accompanied by angry outbursts
  • Changes in personality, becoming quieter or more talkative than usual
  • Changes in behaviour, sleeping habits or appetite
  • Temperamental changes and inexplicable mood swings
  • Highly self-critical or expressing hopelessness and worthlessness
  • Unexplained injuries such as cuts or bruises

(See also: Help Your Child Cope with Bullying)

Ms Ann Hui Peng, Director of Student Service @ Children’s Society, one of 13 service centres operated by Singapore Children’s Society, suggests that parents start building a trusting relationship with their children from a young age. “This ensures that their children feel comfortable sharing their problems or worries. We advocate for parents to actively listen whenever their child initiates conversations on what is troubling them. Do not trivialise their sharing and revisit the issue later to ensure that the negative feelings are no longer troubling your child.”

Causes of Depression in Children

depression in children - depressed childSource

“Youths in our modern society are faced with increasing pressure and multiple challenges. It is a period in life that is often confusing, leaving teens feeling isolated from family or peers,” explains an SOS spokesperson. However, problems can start long before the teen years, and children who don’t get adequate help can find themselves on a downward spiral as they get older, even continuing into adulthood.

(See also: Exam Stress in Kids: How to Recognise The Signs Plus 7 Strategies to Combat It!)

So what causes depression in children to begin with? Ms Ann shares her observations: “Common topics that children approach Tinkle Friend about are school-related, such as too much homework, exam stress or disappointment over their results. Family and peer issues are also common. Some children also chat with Tinkle Friend simply out of boredom and loneliness.”

Depression in children – and in adults – can be caused by any combination of factors. These can include physical health or even appearance, as well as happenings in their home, school or other environments. Major life events such as a divorce or death in the family can be especially traumatising. Children with a family history of depression are genetically more vulnerable to depression, as are those from chaotic or conflicted families. Depression can also be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain.

(See also: Where’s Heaven?: Explaining Death to Children)

How You Can Help Your Troubled Child

depression in children - believe in yourselfSource

It’s important to recognise that depression isn’t something that only happens to ‘others’. Parents are often unaware or in denial that their children are not as happy as they should be. If you suspect there might be a problem, here’s what you can do:

1. Offer a listening ear

Begin by encouraging your child to express themselves. The key here is to listen without judgement. Don’t tell them that they shouldn’t feel like that, but rather, reassure them that it’s ok to feel this way and that together you’ll figure it out. Getting them to talk about their problems is half the battle won. On your part, focus on their strengths and how much you appreciate their efforts.

(See also: Accountability: Teach your Child the Most Important Value of all)

2. Don’t be an intrusive parent

In a five-year study on primary school children, National University of Singapore (NUS) researchers found that children with intrusive parents – parents who exert undue expectations and stress on their children – tend to be overly critical of themselves. High levels of self-criticalness are linked to elevated depression and anxiety symptoms. Remind yourself that it’s okay if your child makes mistakes. Allow them to learn from it, rather than jumping in to correct them and prevent the mistake being made.

When parents become intrusive in their children’s lives, it may signal to the children that what they do is never good enough. As a result, the child may become afraid of making the slightest mistake and will blame himself or herself for not being ‘perfect’.

Over time, such behaviour, known as maladaptive perfectionism, may be detrimental to the child’s well-being as it increases the risk of the child developing symptoms of depression, anxiety and even suicide in very serious cases.

– Assistant Professor Ryan Hong, Department of Psychology, NUS

(See also: Are You A Helicopter Parent? You Could be Hurting Your Infant)

3. Get ‘outsider’ support

The SOS spokesperson has this advice: “Some parents may find that their child resists their advances and isn’t willing to confide in them. When the child insists their parents just ‘don’t understand’, encouraging them to talk to someone else can be helpful.” This can be someone they trust, like a favourite cousin or teacher, or even a complete stranger. You can also offer them the following alternatives to turn to when they need support:

depression in children - you got thisSource

4. Seek professional help

Remember, depression is an illness. Try to approach it objectively and don’t take it personally. If your child falls physically ill, you would take her to see a doctor, right? Remember, the sooner your child gets the treatment they need, the sooner they can start to get better. Consult your doctor or approach one of the organisations listed above. They will be able to advise you on suitable treatment options for your child.

The issues that a child shares may appear simple or minor to parents, but the magnitude and intensity of the issues troubling them may be significantly bigger in the eyes of the child.

– Ms Ann Hui Peng, Director, Student Service @ Children’s Society

Header image: Photo by Andrew Rashotte on Burst
Feature image: Photo by Rhendi Rukmana on Unsplash

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Depression in Children: Signs, Causes and Solutions