Resources / For families

What every parent should know about childhood depression

boy with backpack sad
Brightline Logo Mark Orange
Brightline team

Feb 14, 2023

Depression in kids is highly treatable...here are the signs to watch out for.

Even though feeling sad is a normal part of the human experience, it's hard to watch your child at a low point. Also difficult: figuring out if they’re having natural feelings of sadness or what may be clinical depression. Kids don’t have the same language and behaviors as adults, so it’s easy to miss signs that they’re having a tough time and could use some extra support.

The idea that your child may be depressed can feel scary, but keep in mind that depression is both very common and highly treatable. In fact, the majority of kids respond well to initial treatment.

Here’s what else to know about depression in kids.

What causes kids to feel “low”

Childhood depression is complex, and researchers are still trying to unravel all the factors at play. Genes and environment play a part. So does brain chemistry. A child’s individual behaviors and thoughts matter, too.

The following are also believed to increase the risk that a child will experience depression:

  • Family history of depression (in a parent or sibling)

  • Family conflict or instability

  • Adverse early childhood experiences (like abuse or the loss of a loved one)

  • Problems with friends or school

  • Gender dysphoria, gender nonconforming, and/or identifying as LGBTQ+

  • Previous depression

  • Anxiety disorder

  • Learning disabilities

  • ADD and ADHD

  • Defiance or conduct disorder

  • Chronic illness

Signs to look out for

Just like in adults, the most common symptoms of depression in kids are low mood and/or irritability. But not all kids recognize they’re depressed, or can put it into words, so it may come out in different ways, like:

Loss of interest. Beloved activities, hobbies, or friends could suddenly become “boring” or “stupid.”

Changes in eating habits. Your child may say they’re not hungry or refuse to eat, or they may feel hungry all the time or overeat.

Changes in sleeping habits. They may have trouble falling or staying asleep, or they could start sleeping longer or napping.

Moving too fast or too slow. You may notice your child has a hard time staying still — they could fidget, wring their hands, or pace. Or, they could become sluggish. You may notice your child moves, speaks, and even appears to process their thoughts more slowly than usual.

Loss of energy. They may complain that their limbs feel heavy, and have trouble starting and finishing chores or school assignments.

Feelings of worthlessness. Depression often goes hand-in-hand with feelings or thoughts of not being good enough. You may notice that your child is quick to self-criticize, take the blame for things that aren’t their fault, or doesn’t try new things because they’re worried they’ll fail.

Trouble with focus. Along with worse concentration and memory, your child may find it hard to make even small decisions.

Changes at school. You may notice a drop in your child’s grades, or find that they’re not doing or finishing assignments.

Note: If your child has talked about or shown interest in suicide, it’s important that you seek care immediately. An expert can assess their risk and help you come up with a safety plan. If you’re not sure who to talk to, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. (You can also chat from your computer with a trained counselor at 988lifeline.org.) If this is an emergency and you’re concerned that your child will immediately harm themselves or others, call 911.

When to get support

It can be tough to determine if your child is just feeling sad or experiencing depression. The best strategy may be to not second-guess yourself. If you notice a change in your child’s mood, how they’re doing in school, or what’s going on with their friends, talk to their pediatrician or another health care professional.

At Brightline, we have coaching programs that can help kids build coping skills for when they’re feeling sad or down. We also offer therapy with a licensed therapist for depression. Based on your child’s symptoms, we can help you determine the right level of care for what they’re going through — and we’ll get through it, together.