Friday, March 22, 2024

How Many Children Have Depression

What Are The Symptoms

How to help children who have anxiety, depression, & ADD.

A child may be depressed if he or she:

  • Is irritable, sad, withdrawn, or bored most of the time.
  • Does not take pleasure in things he or she used to enjoy.

A child who is depressed may also:

  • Lose or gain weight.
  • Sleep too much or too little.
  • Feel hopeless, worthless, or guilty.
  • Have trouble concentrating, thinking, or making decisions.
  • Think about death or suicide a lot.

The symptoms of depression are often overlooked at first. It can be hard to see that symptoms are all part of the same problem.

Also, the symptoms may be different depending on how old the child is.

  • Both very young children and grade-school children may lack energy and become withdrawn. They may show little emotion, seem to feel hopeless, and have trouble sleeping. Often they will lose interest in friends and activities they liked before. They may complain of headaches or stomachaches. A child may be more anxious or clingy with caregivers.
  • Teens may sleep a lot or move or speak more slowly than usual. Some teens and children with severe depression may see or hear things that aren’t there or have false beliefs .

Depression can range from mild to severe. A child who feels a little “down” most of the time for a year or more may have a milder, ongoing form of depression called . In its most severe form, depression can cause a child to lose hope and want to die.

Whether depression is mild or severe, there are treatments that can help.

Prevalence Of Major Depressive Episode Among Adolescents

  • Figure 2 shows the past year prevalence of major depressive episode among U.S. adolescents in 2019.
  • An estimated 3.8 million adolescents aged 12 to 17 in the United States had at least one major depressive episode. This number represented 15.7% of the U.S. population aged 12 to 17.
  • The prevalence of major depressive episode was higher among adolescent females compared to males .
  • The prevalence of major depressive episode was highest among adolescents reporting two or more races .

Figure 2

Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race all other racial/ethnic groups are non-Hispanic | AI/AN = American Indian/Alaska Native. Note: Estimates for Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander groups are not reported in the above table due to low precision.

Demographic
2 or more Races 20.9

*Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race all other racial/ethnic groups are non-Hispanic | AI/AN = American Indian/Alaska Native.Note: Estimates for Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander groups are not reported in the above table due to low precision.

What Makes Yale Medicines Approach To Treating Depression And Suicide Ideation In Children Unique

Widely known for extensive research and expertise in mental health disorders that affect children, the Yale Medicine Child Study Center children with severe mental illness, including those who have experienced trauma. The knowledge and experience gained from these challenging cases contribute to broad expertise and a deep commitment to helping children move past depression and into happier, more productive lives.

Poncin says that treating the illest of ill children leads to deep insight into complex and sensitive issues surrounding pediatric mental health care. The Child Study Center uses highly detailed clinical guidelines, sorting out which therapeutic approach is most likely to help a particular type of depression, and understanding how to safely treat children already on other medications for co-occurring conditions.

Additionally, the Child Study Center has wide experience in developing, refining and applying a variety of evidence-based therapies. For example, if cognitive behavioral therapy proves ineffective for a child, other types of psychotherapy may be more beneficial.

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Youth With Severe Mde Who Received Some Consistent Treatment 2020

  • Nationally, only 28.2% of youth with severe depression receive some consistent treatment .
  • Late recognition in primary care settings and limited coverage of mental health services often prevent youth from receiving timely and effective treatment.
  • The state prevalence of youth with severe depression who received some outpatient treatment ranges from 53.9% in Maryland to 13.5% in South Carolina.

Anxiety And Depression In Children: Get The Facts

IAN Research Findings: Issues of Attention and Mood in ...

Many children have fears and worries, and may feel sad and hopeless from time to time. Strong fears may appear at different times during development. For example, toddlers are often very distressed about being away from their parents, even if they are safe and cared for. Although some fears and worries are typical in children, persistent or extreme forms of fear and sadness could be due to anxiety or depression. Learn about anxiety and depression in children.

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Data And Statistics On Children’s Mental Health

Mental disorders among children are described as serious changes in the way children typically learn, behave, or handle their emotions, causing distress and problems getting through the day.1 Among the more common mental disorders that can be diagnosed in childhood are attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder , anxiety, and behavior disorders.

There are different ways to estimate which children have difficulties with mental health. CDC uses surveys, like the National Survey of Childrens Health, to understand which children have diagnosed mental disorders and whether they received treatment. In this type of survey, parents report on the diagnoses their child has received from a healthcare provider. Learn more facts about childrens mental disorders below.

Which Children Get Depressed

Up to 3% of children and 8% of adolescents in the U.S. have depression. The condition is significantly more common in boys under age 10. But by age 16, girls have a greater incidence of depression.

Bipolar disorder is more common in adolescents than in younger children. But bipolar disorder in children can be more severe than in adolescents. It may also happen with, or be hidden by, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder , obsessive compulsive disorder , or conduct disorder .

Read Also: When Was Postpartum Depression First Recognized

Helping Teens Through The Crisis

Parents and caregivers who notice signs of depression in teens can help children navigate the most troubling waters of divorce. The most important part is for the parents to be as mature and responsible as possible. Sadly, when adults are hurting, they may not have as much time, energy or empathy for their children. Children are the collateral damage in a divorce and they are torn between loyalties to both parents. They are also in need of a great deal more attention when the family is in a crisis and parents may not always be able to provide comfort and reassurance.

Family therapy can help teens, if both parents are willing to be in the same room together to deal with the emotional fallout from the divorce. If not, teens should have access to appropriate therapists. Also, where possible, it is helpful to build a connection with the most stable members of the familysuch as grandparents or older siblingsso that it does not feel like their whole world has fallen apart. Our other therapeutic options include:

The Risk Of Suicide In Todays Teens

How Depression Is Diagnosed in Children | Child Psychology

Any threat of suicide should be taken seriously. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger because of thoughts of suicide, please call 911 immediately.

If you do not live in the U.S., please call your local emergency number. Help is always available. Stay on the phone with the operator and wait for help to arrive.

Remember that other people care. If you are not in immediate danger, but want to talk with someone about your suicidal feelings, you can call the National Hopeline Network for Suicide Prevention at 1-800-SUICIDE or 1-800-784-2433. Recognizing the red flags could save a life.

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Depression Is Less Prevalent Compared To Anxiety Disorders

According to anxiety statistics, worldwide, its prevalence is very high. In other words, generalized anxiety disorder , panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder , phobia disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder , along with other types of anxiety disorder, impact the lives of 284 million people.

Can Children Really Have Depression

Yes. Childhood depression is different from the normal “blues” and everyday emotions that children go through as they develop. Just because a child seems sad doesn’t necessarily mean they have significant depression. But if the sadness becomes persistent or interferes with normal social activities, interests, schoolwork, or family life, it may mean they have a depressive illness. Keep in mind that while depression is a serious illness, itâs also a treatable one.

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Access To Childrens Mental Health Care During The Pandemic

Prior to the pandemic, many children with mental health needs were not receiving care for reasons including costs, lack of providers, and limited insurance coverage. In 2019, 11% of children ages 3-17 received mental health care in the past year. However, only one in five children with mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders were receiving mental health care from a specialized provider. It is possible that access to mental health care like access to all health services worsened during the pandemic. In an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus, many health care providers changed the way they deliver services, sometimes suspending them or operating at limited capacity. Telehealth use has increased for many types of health services, but not necessarily by enough to offset the drop in in-person care.

Figure 5: Mental Health Service Utilization Rates Per 1,000 Medicaid/CHIP Child Beneficiaries, February vs. October 2020

With pandemic-related school closures, children and adolescents may have faced limited or suspended health services they commonly access through school-based health centers , including mental health services. In focus groups conducted during the pandemic, many SBHC staff reported challenges delivering health care and heightened concerns around mental distress among students, including symptoms of anxiety and depression and suicidal ideation. Prior to the pandemic, many adolescents sought mental health care through schools .

Students Identified With Emotional Disturbance For An Individualized Education Program 2020

IAN RESEARCH PRELIMINARY RESULTS: Attention and Mood ...

Only .73%* of students are identified as having an ED for IEP.

For purposes of an IEP, the term Emotional Disturbance is used to define youth with a mental illness that is affecting their ability to succeed in school.

Early identification for IEPs is critical. IEPs provide the services, accommodations and support students with ED need to receive a quality education. Inadequate education leads to poor outcomes such as low academic achievement, social isolation, unemployment, and involvement in the juvenile system. Further, the federal eligibility criteria to identify students as having an emotional disturbance for an IEP have indicated extremely poor reliability among school psychologists, and therefore must be revised to adequately identify students in need of more supports.

*The rate for this measure is shown as a rate per 1,000 students. The calculation was made this way for ease of reading. Unfortunately, doing so hides the fact that the percentages are significantly lower. If states were doing a better job of identifying whether youth had emotional difficulties that could be better supported through an IEP the rates would be closer to 7 percent instead of .7 percent.

The state rate of students identified as having an Emotional Disturbance for an IEP ranges from 27.72% per 1,000 students in Vermont to 2.02% per 1,000 students in Alabama.

High percentages are associated with positive outcomes and low percentages are associated with poorer outcomes

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Anxiety And Depression In Children

It is not uncommon for children to be diagnosed with both depression and an anxiety disorder, or depression and general anxiety. About half of people diagnosed with depression are also diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.

Teens: Depression is not your fault or caused by something you did wrong.

Children with depression may display these symptoms:

  • Depressed or irritable mood
  • Change in grades, getting into trouble at school, or refusing to go to school
  • Change in eating habits
  • Withdrawing from friends and activities
  • Loss of energy
  • Low self-esteem
  • Thoughts of death or suicide

Depression and anxiety disorders can often be treated the same way and at the same time. Like anxiety disorders, depression can be treated with cognitive-behavioral therapy and antidepressants. Learn more about treatment.

Resources

Depression In Children And Adolescents

SUNG E. SON, M.D., University of Washington, Spokane, Washington

JEFFREY T. KIRCHNER, D.O., Lancaster General Hospital, Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Am Fam Physician. 2000 Nov 15 62:2297-2308.

See related patient information handout on depression in children, written by the authors of this article.

This article exemplifies the AAFP 2000 Annual Clinical Focus on mental health.

Just 40 years ago, many physicians doubted the existence of significant depressive disorders in children, primarily because they believed that children lacked the mature psychologic and cognitive structure necessary to experience these problems. However, a growing body of evidence has confirmed that children and adolescents not only experience the whole spectrum of mood disorders but also suffer from the significant morbidity and mortality associated with them. Suicide has become a growing public health concern as successive generations have shown a parallel increase of suicide and depression in the pediatric age group.1,2 Childhood depression, like the depression of adults, can encompass a spectrum of symptoms ranging from normal responses of sadness and disappointment in stressful life events to severe impairment caused by clinical depression that may or may not include evidence of mania.35

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Causes Of Major Depression

There are a combination of causes, such as genetics, environment, and psychological factors. Research suggests that major depression has a strong genetic component given that the illness can be passed on from one generation to the next. However, its important to note that children dont always develop depression simply because their parents have it. Many children develop depression even when there is no family history of the illness. Children are also more likely to develop depression if they experience environmental stress such as abuse, neglect, or trauma, significant changes or losses, family and parental distress, or significant peer conflict such as bullying or romantic loss. In addition, children with chronic medical illnesses or other behavioral health disorders, such as anxiety, are at risk for developing depression.

Just How Can You Identify Depression In A Teenager

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One of the most vulnerable groups for finished suicide is the age group. While grownups have a tendency to separate themselves when dispirited, teens generally maintain a minimum of some relationships. Nonetheless, teens with depression might mingle much less than before, pull away from their moms and dads, or begin hanging out with a various crowd. Supplies information regarding alcohol as well as medicine addiction to children whose moms and dads or friends moms and depression affects on children dads could have drug abuse issues. Advises children to care for themselves by communicating about the problem as well as joining support system such as Alateen. Major depression can result in suicidal ideas and, in some cases, a self-destruction attempt. Your child may pertain to you and also reveal that she or he is having self-destructive ideas, yet more often, moms and dads need to be attentive to notice subtle indicators.

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Children With Private Insurance That Did Not Cover Mental Or Emotional Problems 2021

The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity law was enacted in 2008, and promised the equal coverage of mental health and substance use services. The rate of children with private insurance that does not cover mental or emotional problems decreased 0.3% from last year’s dataset. However, there are still 901,000 youth without coverage for their behavioral health.

In 2019, a Milliman research report found large disparities between behavioral health and medical/surgical services, including that patients saw out-of-network behavioral health providers at much higher rates than physical health providers. It also found that these disparities were worse for children. In 2017, a behavioral health visit for a child was over 10 times more likely to be out-of-network than a primary care office visit. This was over two times the disparity shown for adults.

To improve the worsening mental health of children and adolescents in the U.S., insurance companies must not only achieve parity in coverage of services, but also in network adequacy, so people are able to access those services when they need them.

The state prevalence of children lacking mental health coverage ranges from 0.6% in Vermont to 14.8% in South Carolina.

What Should I Do If I Think My Child Is Depressed

If you think your child is depressed:

Talk with your child about sadness and depression. Kids might not know why they are so sad and why things seem so hard. Let them know you see that they’re going through a hard time and that you’re there to help. Listen, comfort, offer your support, and show love.

Set up a visit with your child’s doctor. Let your child’s doctor know if sad or bad moods seem to go on for a few weeks. By itself, this doesn’t always mean a child is depressed. Tell your child’s doctor if you have also noticed changes in your child’s sleep, eating, energy, or effort. Tell them if your child is dealing with a loss, a big stress, or hardship.

The doctor will do a physical exam. A full exam lets the doctor check for health issues that could cause your child’s symptoms. They can also check for depression. Your child’s doctor may refer you to a child therapist. The doctor’s office might have a child therapist on staff.

Set up a visit with a child therapist. A child therapist will spend time talking with you and your child. They will do an in-depth check for depression by asking questions and listening. The therapist can explain how therapy can help your child.

Take your child to therapy visits. The therapist may suggest a few visits, or more. Therapy can take time, but you will see progress along the way.

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