They may withdraw from friends and family, act out their anger or stop activities they once enjoyed. Some may behave badly, perform poorly in school, use alcohol, drugs or contemplate taking their own lives. Children can get depressed. The behavior of depressed children and teenagers differs from the behavior of depressed adults. Fortunately, there is hope with early detection and treatment.
Depression is just as treatable as other health problems for both adults and children.
As many as one in 33 children and 1 in 8 adolescents may have depression, according to the U.S. Center for Mental Health Services. However, the majority of these illnesses go undiagnosed and untreated. Left untreated, depression can lead to school failure, substance abuse and even suicide. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among 15-24 years of age and the sixth leading cause of death for 5 to 15 years old. There is a website with some great information available for those who need to explore this topic further.