Depression is usually considered to be an adult’s issue, but children can also experience depression, sometimes in ways which are very much hard in terms of detection. In the kids, depression will be manifesting as irritation, withdrawal from activities and changes in appetite or sleep with a lower level of self-esteem. Unlike the temporary sadness, clinical depression will persist for many weeks and longer it which will significantly impair the functioning of the kids. Fortunately, with early recognition and proactive management with the help of neurology experts at the best neurology Hospital for kids, depression management can be successful. The following are the most important tips that you need to take very seriously for managing depression in children:
- Recognising the symptoms very early: Early intervention is the key to success in managing depression in children, and for this, you have to be very much alert about the basic symptoms including the persistent element of sadness, meditation, loss of interest, sudden changes in eating or sleeping habits with low element of energy. Frequent complaints of physical pain without any medical cause or difficulty in concentrating on a particular topic in academic performance are important to be taken seriously. Usually, all of these symptoms are mistaken for typical mood swings or behavioural issues, but if they will be persisting for more than two weeks, then professional attention is very much important to be taken care of right from the beginning.
- Opening the lines of communication: One of the powerful tools that you need to take into consideration for managing depression is simply encouraging communication. Whenever you encourage your kids to express themselves very freely without any fear of punishment or judgment, then definitely, they will definitely be able to promote their self-esteem. For the younger children who are struggling in verbalising their emotions, playing and drawing is a very good decision to be taken into consideration because it will be a safe outlet for the kids to express themselves freely and without any fear of judgement.
- Going for a professional help: If you suspect that your child is depressed then definitely getting in touch with the paediatric neurology doctors will be highly recommended in such cases so that evaluation of the condition of the kids will be very well done and you will be able to recommend the kids with appropriate plan of treatment. This will further include the therapy, counselling, and in some cases, the medication will also be taken into the entire situation without any problem. Introduction of cognitive behavioural therapy is one of the important things that you need to take into consideration so that management of the negative thoughts will be perfectly done, and further, you will be able to develop healthier coping mechanisms. Early intervention in this case will be highly successful in preventing the depression from intensifying and will further promote long-term mental wellness without any problem at any point in time.
- Creating a supportive and collaborative home environment: Children have to feel safe at their home, which is the main reason that creating the best possible collaborative and supportive environment as parents is recommended for everyone. As parents, you must always focus on avoiding harsh criticism and practising patience is important, so that encouragement and positive reinforcement can be done beautifully. Creating a routine that will be including time for playing, resting and open interaction is important, and further, you should limit the screen time and promote healthy activities. Even the minor adjustments to the daily routine will be made to ensure that spending time outdoors will make the children feel much more connected with their parents, and further, will be helpful in creating a very comforting environment for them. Haematology oncology near me doctors will always recommend that the parents try spending more time with kids in leisure activities, so that everyone will be able to get rid of the depressive symptoms very successfully.
- Establishing a healthy routine: Structure will always provide the kids with a sense of stability and security, specifically the ones who are dealing with emotional stress. Sitting a consistent bedtime, meal time, and homework schedule will be very much important for the kids so that everything will be very well sorted out, and further providing them with predictable routine is important so that everyone will be able to feel the element of control and will be less over by the daily responsibilities. Further, you need to make sure that they are getting approximately 10 hours of sleep every day is important because poor sleep is a very common symptom and cause of depression in kids.
- Promoting social connections: Social isolation will also lead to the intensification of depression, which is the main reason that, as a parent, you should always focus on encouraging your kids to maintain friendships and engage in social activities, even if they are reluctant or anxious right from the beginning. Beginning with small gatherings and family-based social events is important, and providing your kids with the opportunity to join clubs, sports teams, and hobby classes will also provide them with a sense of belongingness and purpose. Whenever you are helpful to them to find their interest, then definitely you will be able to create a group or environment where they will feel valued as well as accepted, which will further have a very positive impact on their overall self-confidence and self-esteem image.
- It is vital to reduce the academic pressure: Academic stress is another very significant contributor towards child depression, which is the main reason that you need to take the high-performing environment very seriously. No doubt the academic success is important but it should never come at the cost of children’s mental health which is the main reason that focusing on effort rather than grades is important and communicating clearly with the teachers is recommended for you so that adjusting of the workload will be perfectly done and you will be able to see the academic support without any problem. This will be helpful in making sure that you become their role model, and further, you should also normalise seeking help and talking about mental health in the home. This will be highly successful in encouraging the open conversation, and they will be able to feel valued at all times.
Apart from the points mentioned above, managing depression in kids will always require patients, awareness and multidisciplinary approach and it is not only about fixing the bad mood but it will be all about understanding, supporting and empowering the kids to restore their emotional balance and build resilience to successfully thrive in all aspects of life.
