Depression Is The “Common Cold” Of Psychiatric Problems

For more than 20 years, researchers have been trying to find ways to prevent depression in children and teens. Although childhood depression doesn’t get nearly as much attention as ADHD or disorders on the Autistic Spectrum, depression is often called the “common cold” of psychiatric disorders, and an estimated 1 out of 3 people will have a serious depression at sometime in their lives.
Teens, of course, have a high risk for depression, which is often associated with other problems that get more attention, like drinking, eating disorders, or poor school performance. Suicide remains the third leading cause of deaths between the ages of 15 and 25.
Whether or not your child shows symptoms of sadness or depression, it is likely that she will experience this problem at sometime in her life, and there are things you can do to make sure that this mood disorder does not become a lifetime battle. To begin, you need to help your child be a “problem-solver.” When she comes to you with problems, particularly ones that involve other children, hold back on your suggestions. Instead ask her to “brainstorm” possible solutions, coming up with as many strategies as possible. Then show her how to evaluate each possibility, and decide on which one might lead to the best outcome. Encourage her to try the solution, and if it doesn’t work, go back to the original list and try again. This simple procedure fosters self-reliance and self-worth, the opposite of the feelings that underlie depression.