How Do You Diagnose Depression In Children?
Depression can strike anyone at anytime and even children are not immune from the emotional disorder. Although occasional sadness may be a part of a normal childhood, if a child experiences chronic unhappiness and exhibits other signs of depression over a period of one month or longer, he may suffer from clinical depression. Personal observation and a professional assessment are necessary when diagnosing depression in a child. Observe the child’s interaction with his peers. Children who suffer from depression may withdraw from social activities. In addition, they may want to spend the majority of their time by themselves and may turn down invitations from friends to attend social functions. Monitor a child’s energy and physical activity levels. When a child becomes depressed, his desire to take part in extracurricular sports or games may suffer. The child may show no interest in physical activities that he once enjoyed. Pay attention to a child’s achievement in school. When depression
