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Home › Articles › General › Down in the Dumps

Down in the Dumps

Dealing With Childhood Depression

By Ginny Hermann

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When we think of children and depression, the picture that most likely pops into mind is that of a lonely teenager, diary in hand, languishing in the isolation of her bedroom, or we envision a misfit adolescent, sulking in a corner with only his Game Boy and comic books for company. But depression isn't just a teenage or adolescent problem. The "blues" can strike as early as kindergarten and can progress into an extremely serious illness if left untreated.

According to Ellie Epstein, an employee assistance program counselor with Methodist Hospital in Omaha, Neb., childhood depression is more common than you would think. "There are many things that can contribute to a young child's bout with depression," says Epstein. "A stressful life event is usually found to be the trigger in children ages 6 through 9. Since depression has very little to do with biology at this age, the causes are usually found to be environmental, something that has occurred either inside or outside the family unit."

The Effects of Tragedy
Unpleasant family events such as death, divorce, family conflict, illness or physical disability can turn an otherwise happy-go-lucky youngster into a sad, withdrawn child.

When their 7-month-old daughter died, Michael and Kim Moore* were understandably devastated, but, through their grief, they realized their 6-year-old son, Timothy*, and 3-year-old daughter, Josie*, were suffering from depression. "The depression was a natural occurrence following the death of their sister," says Kim Moore. Both children exhibited classic signs, including sleeping problems, angry outbursts, voluntary isolation and fear of separation.

Childhood depression can also be attributed to ongoing familial situations that place the child in uncomfortable territory. When a parent suffers from alcohol or drug abuse, the child feels her parent cannot be trusted. A similar scenario occurs when a child is involved in physical, sexual or emotional abuse. Sometimes, depression stems from poor parenting skills. "Some people exhibit behaviors that are not conducive to great parenting," says Epstein. "Yelling, fighting, criticizing all of these diminish a child's sense of self."

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