Attention to Depression in Children

Depression in children typically manifests as reluctance or unwillingness. This reluctance causes disruptions in sleep and appetite, and over time the child who struggles to concentrate enters a state of emotional collapse. Families need to be attentive to notice this. It is important for parents to pay attention to their children's behavioral attitudes and statements. Specialist Clinical Psychologist Gözdem Özdem from the Psychology Department at Memorial Bahçelievler Hospital shared information about the causes of depression in children and "play therapy," which is used to protect children from depression.

Depression Is an Adjustment Disorder

Childhood depression develops as a result of external influences experienced during infancy, the play period, or school period being reflected onto the child. Additionally, children who experience depression in childhood have an increased likelihood of entering another depressive period in adulthood, receiving a bipolar disorder diagnosis, or experiencing problems such as eating disorders. On the other hand, attention deficit is often confused with depression. For this reason, it is recommended that parents be very careful in safeguarding their children's mental health, and when they face a problem, they should seek expert support as soon as possible.

Can Develop Due to Many Causes

Childhood depression can occur due to:

1. The birth of a sibling.
2. A conflictual family environment.
3. Pressure that parents unknowingly place on the child can cause depression.
4. Behavioral maladjustment can be a cause of childhood depression.
5. Loss of a parent or parents' divorce can cause depression in children.

Play Therapy for Children

Play therapy helps children express themselves by substituting or using toys instead of words. For children, play therapy is what counseling services are for adults. When adults have problems, they go through a process of resolving them with a psychotherapist they trust. For children, it is difficult to notice and verbalize the things that bother them because their ability to express themselves is not yet as developed as that of adults.   Play therapy provides children with the opportunity to express their thoughts, feelings, needs, and desires in their most natural way—through play. A play therapist who is an expert in the field understands and resolves children's problems and simultaneously helps develop their coping skills in a healthy manner.

Watch Out for These Traumas!

• Children from conflictual family environments, whose parents are going through divorce, or who experience domestic violence,
• Children who have experienced emotional, physical, or sexual abuse,
• Adopted children,
• Children who encounter the death or illness of a loved one,
• Children from families that cannot set boundaries,
• Children experiencing sibling jealousy,
• Children experiencing physical symptoms such as headaches or stomach aches not related to a medical cause,
• Children with self-esteem problems,
• Children dealing with chronic illness,
• Children diagnosed with attention deficit,
• Children with anger control disorder,
• Children experiencing separation anxiety,
• Children experiencing excessive shyness must be followed by specialists and guided appropriately so they can continue their lives in a healthy manner.