Some small children do think about suicide and, shocking as it sounds, some will attempt it. For many years, the subject of whether children could, in fact, suffer, from depression, was very controversial. It now clearly evident that they do. However, it is still highly controversial whether manic depression occurs in children. Rare cases have been reported but, in general, it s agreed that manic depression more commonly occurs after puberty.
Childhood depression is very difficult to recognize.
Sometimes the symptoms are masked by other types of behaviour, such as hyperactivity, attention deficit disorder, delinquency, school problems, or physical complaints which seem to have no cause. Children who lose the love or attention of someone they depend on may suffer an acute depressive episode. The loss might be a death or long absence. Sometimes the loved person is still present but for some reason withdraws from the child emotionally. In such cases, depression is temporary and does not return.