7 Easily Missed Signs Your Child Might Have Depression

Here, find out what experts say are some of the most easily missed symptoms of childhood depression.

Some symptoms of depression may appear differently in kids than adults, which is why knowing the signs of childhood depression is crucial, says Mayra Sernas, PhD, a licensed marriage and family therapist at Los Angeles Therapy Institute.

One reason it can be difficult to recognize depression in children is that they may explain or express their depression differently than adults do, especially if they’re young and still learning how to express their emotions. A “tantrum,” for example, may not just be a kid being mad at the moment, but a sign that they are emotionally struggling, says Dr. Sernas.

“When a child struggles with depressive symptoms but does not show behaviors that are typically associated and recognized as signaling depression, the negative behaviors may be misinterpreted, and the signs of depression missed,” says Sernas.

Missed signs of childhood depression can lead to delayed diagnosis and treatment. “Without early intervention, depressive symptoms can worsen and lead to many emotional, behavioral, and academic challenges in a kid’s life,” Dr. Lira de la Rosa says, “This may mean that by the time a child receives mental health treatment, their depression may have worsened and may take longer to treat.”

Here are seven signs that your child may be experiencing depression.

1. They Seem Angrier or More Irritable Than Usual

“Some of the common signs may include anger and irritability, more so than feelings of sadness that may be more common in adults who have depression,” says Lira de la Rosa. “They may also begin to act out or misbehave at home and at school or experience significant fluctuations in their mood.”

2. They’ve Withdrawn From Friends and Their Favorite Activities

Similar to adults, kids who have depression may also have behavioral changes such as withdrawal from friends or social activities that they normally love, Sernas says. This is often due to anhedonia, a common sign of depression involving loss of interest or pleasure in activities they used to enjoy.

3. You’ve Noticed Changes in Their Appetite

4. Their Sleeping Patterns Have Changed

Sleeping more than usual or having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep can signal depression in a child, says Lira de la Rosa.

5. Their Academic Performance Has Slipped

6. They Have Unexplained Aches and Pains

7. They Talk About Death or Dying

• Self-harm and increased risky or self-destructive behaviors
• Social withdrawal
• Feelings of hopelessness or like they’re a burden to others
• Expressing emotional pain that is unbearable
• Gathering items that can help them make a suicide attempt, such as medications, sharp objects, or firearms
• Researching ways to kill themselves online
• Giving away their possessions without a logical reason for doing so
• Saying goodbye to people
• Suddenly becoming cheerful after a period of depression

If you suspect your child has depression, start by talking to them about it. Consider these tips for getting the conversation started, says Lira de la Rosa:

• For younger kids, make the conversation part of playtime or another activity, and bring up feelings like sadness. Lira de la Rosa recommends Sesame Workshop’s Emotional Well-Being resource as a potential tool to help young children learn about their emotions.
• For older kids and teens, consider planning a fun activity with them, such as getting ice cream or going to their favorite store, and ask them how they’re doing emotionally. Often, older kids and teens have already been exposed to the topic of depression through media and school, Lira de la Rosa says.
• When talking to your child about depression, try to emphasize how common this mental health condition is. If it’s relevant, consider sharing your own experiences with depression in an age-appropriate way.

It’s important to note that the aforementioned signs don’t automatically mean your child has depression, but if you notice them in your child, it’s worth talking to a doctor. Your child’s pediatrician or a licensed mental health professional can screen your child for depression if they’ve experienced the signs for at least two weeks. This means they’ll ask you and your child some questions to determine if what your child is experiencing is depression (or something else).

• Talk therapy, which can help children learn how to navigate their emotions, manage sad feelings, and cope with situations they find difficult, among other helpful tools.
• Antidepressant medications, if more support is needed beyond talk therapy. However, antidepressants are less likely to be prescribed as the initial treatment for kids and teens than adults — fewer studies of antidepressants have been performed in youths than adults.

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• Assessing your child’s environment to see what factors could be contributing to their symptoms. For example, if a situation at home is triggering their depression, family therapy could be helpful.