Symptoms of Depressed or Troubled Students   

Symptoms of depression very often look like normal childhood behavior EXCEPT:
a.) they often appear in clusters of three of more symptoms, and,
b.) they last for two weeks or longer

What Should I look for?

• A sudden or unusual change of behavior or mood
• Frequent whining, crying, complaining
• Extreme sensitivity or shyness; an almost paralyzing fear of rejection
• Moodiness, sullen irritability, inappropriate and frequent anger or rage
• Prolonged periods of sadness, feeling empty, hopelessness
• A sudden drop in grades or in the quality of schoolwork
• Loss of interest or pleasure in things previously enjoyed
• Withdrawal or isolation from others
• Significant weight gain or loss
• Unnecessary anxiety, tension, high stress, low tolerance for frustration
• Continual fatigue; drowsiness, inability to fall asleep or stay asleep
• Difficulty concentrating - delayed responses
• Overactivity, increased physical agitation
• Forgetfulness, confusion, doing the wrong assignments, missing parts on tests
• Unusual interest or pleasure in violence, threats, or bullying
• Self-destructive behaviors: recklessness, substance abuse, self-injury, eating disorders
• Running Away
• Minor, vague physical complaints: headaches, stomach aches, fainting, nausea
• Prolonged or repeated interest in death, morbidity, or suicide

Treatment

Children with depression should be treated by a trained and experienced mental health professional. These include: psychiatrists (especially pediatric psychiatrists), psychologists, or counselors. Your local Mental Health America or the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill affiliate can help you locate a treatment professional in your area.

A variety of effective treatments are available for depression in children.

Talk therapy can help children to recognize their own response to stress and manage it more effectively. It can also help them to understand and cope with their disability.

Medication. A variety of medications are available. They are used when talk therapy alone is not effective or when the conditions are severe enough to seriously disrupt the child's health or ability to function.

Although talk therapy or medication can be used separately, treatment is generally more effective when both are utilized.