Depression does not only affect adults. Children and young people can get depressed too.

It’s important to get help early if you think your child may be depressed. The longer it goes on, the more likely it is to disrupt your child’s life and turn into a long-term problem.

Depression is a mental health difficulty that involves persistent low mood (continuing for a long time). It impacts on the way people feel, think and behave. Depression can happen as a reaction to difficult experiences such as bullying, bereavement or family relationship difficulties. It can also happen without any obvious trigger or reason.

Symptoms of depression in children often include: sadness, or a low mood that does not go away, being irritable or grumpy all the time, not being interested in things they used to enjoy, feeling tired and exhausted a lot of the time.

Some children have problems with anxiety as well as depression. Some also have physical symptoms, such as headaches and stomach aches.

Problems at school can be a sign of depression in children and young people and so can problem behaviour.

Things that could help

A parent’s guide to depression – This guide explains the warning signs of depression in children and young people and how to talk to children about their feelings.

Getting advice

These are experiences that most children will have from time to time.

It is common for children to experience episodes of feeling sad, low or down as they develop through childhood and adolescence. The typical mood issues children experience tend to be situation specific, short term and can be managed with the love and support of parents / carers.

Examples of situations that may cause / contribute to a young person to feel down or low in mood might be:

  • Adjusting to changes (such as a new school)
  • Friendships or relationship issues
  • Episodes of being teased or bullied (including being or feeling left out or excluded)
  • Being physically poorly or in pain
  • Family breakdown or conflict
  • Grief or loss (of a pet, family member or friend)
  • Struggling with academic work

What you might see or a young person might report

  • Being clingy and not wanting to be separated from a parent / carer
  • Not wanting to be left alone
  • Seeking verbal reassurance and checking things are ok
  • Not wanting to go to school
  • Avoidance of seeing friends or doing activities they ordinarily enjoy
  • Having mild sleep disturbance
  • Feeling tired or appearing lethargic and unmotivated and disinterested
  • Appearing withdrawn and less communicative
  • May appear more challenging or oppositional / argumentative
  • Crying

If families or professionals are concerned that a child is experiencing any of the issues above support is available, this includes:

Support in schools

All primary schools have a named Mental Health Lead and within schools there is a range of pastoral support available.  Schools also work with other professionals in order to gain advice and guidance on how best to support children’s social and emotional needs. These services may include the Portsmouth Educational Psychology Team, the Multi Agency Behaviour Support Team and the Inclusion Outreach team.

Within many schools, pastoral support may be provided by Emotional Literacy Support Assistants (ELSAs)

ELSAs are teaching assistants in schools who have been trained by Educational Psychologists to work with children who are showing a wide range of emotional or social needs for example; anxiety, low self-esteem, problems with anger etc. Through individual (and small group) support programmes ELSAs help children to develop their social and emotional skills.

Support will also include Mental Health Support Teams (MHST’s) who are available in all primary schools.

MHST’s support children and young people with mild to moderate mental health problems. The approach they use in primary schools focuses on supporting parents with cognitive behavioural strategies to use with their child to overcome difficulties with low mood/depression. Time is spent on reflecting on what works best for the family and guiding parents in adapting strategies to meet their child’s individual needs as well as providing opportunity for practice.

The school should make contact with MHST for consultation and support for MHST referral where appropriate.

For professionals such as GP’s they should encourage families to link in with the school-based support described above.  The CAMHS Single Point of Access is also available for consultation and advice.

Available Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm

Contact: 0300 123 6632.

Getting help

The degree to which a child feels low or depressed appears out of context or disproportionate to the reason why they might be feeling sad. Episodes of low mood might be more frequent or prolonged and cause the child distress or might have some mild impact on their ability to cope with everyday life such as going to or coping at school, seeing friends or taking part in leisure activities.

These are challenges that some children experience and may need support with.

Examples of situations that may cause / contribute to a child feeling low in mood or depressed:

  • Being routinely teased or bullied (including being or feeling left out or excluded)
  • Grief or loss (including romantic relationships ending)
  • Witness or experience of conflict (at home or school)
  • Change and uncertainty (such as family breakdown)
  • Family and relationship stressors (parent / sibling ill-health, financial or social stressors)
  • Academic pressures / demands including exam stress and worry about the future

Please note, there are occasions when there is no apparent trigger / cause / contributory factor as to why a child may be experiencing episodes of low mood / depression. A child can still be low in mood without clear reason.

What you might see or a child might report

As well as the features in getting advice the following might also be present:

  • Disrupted sleep (difficulties getting to or staying asleep, waking very early in the morning and not being able to get back to sleep)
  • Seeking physical or verbal seeking reassurance or wanting to withdraw from social contact and communication
  • Resistance to doing things; appearing unmotivated and disinterested
  • Poor personal hygiene (not washing or changing clothes regularly)
  • Emotionally labile; frequent changes of emotion, more sensitive (e.g., irritable, upset, confused)
  • Thoughts or urges to harm self or some thoughts to end life; some infrequent or superficial (not requiring medical attention) self-harm may occur.

If families or professionals are concerned that a child is experiencing any of the issues above support is available, this includes:

Support in schools

All primary schools have a named Mental Health Lead and within schools there is a range of pastoral support available.  Schools also work with other professionals in order to gain advice and guidance on how best to support children’s social and emotional needs. These services may include the Portsmouth Educational Psychology Team, the Multi Agency Behaviour Support Team and the Inclusion Outreach team.

Within many schools, pastoral support may be provided by Emotional Literacy Support Assistants (ELSAs)

ELSAs are teaching assistants in schools who have been trained by Educational Psychologists to work with children who are showing a wide range of emotional or social needs for example; anxiety, low self-esteem, problems with anger etc. Through individual (and small group) support programmes ELSAs help children to develop their social and emotional skills.

Support will also include Mental Health Support Teams (MHST’s) who are available in all primary schools.

MHST’s support children and young people with mild to moderate mental health problems. The approach they use in primary schools focuses on supporting parents with cognitive behavioural strategies to use with their child to overcome difficulties with low mood/depression. Time is spent on reflecting on what works best for the family and guiding parents in adapting strategies to meet their child’s individual needs as well as providing opportunity for practice.

The school should make contact with MHST for consultation and support for MHST referral where appropriate.

For professionals such as GP’s they should encourage families to link in with the school-based support described above.

Children can also be referred to Hampshire Youth Access (HYA) for play-based counselling. A referral can be made by a GP, CAMHS or MHST.

The CAMHS Single Point of Access is also available for consultation and advice.

Available Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm

Contact: 0300 123 6632.

Getting more help

Episodes of low mood / depression are severe and enduring. These cause significant distress to a child and significantly disrupt daily coping such as school, socialising and even self-care activities (e.g. sleep, bathing, eating). Despite trying advice in the green and amber stages, the young person still experiences depression symptoms.

Needs Specialist Treatment or a Crisis Response; These are difficulties that cause a significant impact and a child may need specialist support.

Examples of situations that may cause / contribute to a young person feeling low in mood or depressed:

  • Chronic bullying or abuse (including neglect, emotional, physical, sexual)
  • Social or family financial stressors (such as family breakdown, conflict or parental / sibling ill-health)
  • Grief or loss
  • Witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event
  • Overwhelmed by pressures and stressors including individual factors e.g., health, social factors e.g., relationships, occupational factors e.g., school / college and environment e.g., living circumstances

Please note, there are occasions when there is no apparent trigger / cause / contributory factor as to why a young person may be experiencing episodes of low mood / depression. A young person can still be acutely depressed without clear reason.

What you might see or a child might report

As well as the features in getting advice and getting help the following might also be present:

  • Isolating self from friends and family
  • Withdrawn and uncommunicative or not wanting to be left alone at all – this may seem uncharacteristic or age inappropriate
  • Refusal to leave the house or attend / take part in activities such as school, hobbies, interests, seeing friends
  • Significant impact on health and wellbeing such as not sleeping or eating for a sustained period of time. May show signs of physical compromise as a result.
  • Appearing uncaring or unbothered about people or activities they previously would have cared about – may not honour commitments or responsibilities which is uncharacteristic
  • Lack of insight or awareness that others may be concerned – this may lead to arguments or conflict at home
  • May on occasion becoming agitated, distressed, oppositional or aggressive towards others
  • Reactive and impulsive behaviour such as running away which may place them or others in danger
  • Feeling hopeless about the future – not being able to see a future and appearing to give up on dreams, goals and hopes
  • Thoughts, feelings, urges, plans or intent to harm self or end their life or harm others.

If families or professionals are concerned that a child is experiencing any of the issues above support is available, this includes:

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)

If families or professionals are concerned that a child is experiencing severe and enduring mental health issues that are impacting daily life then they should contact CAMHS Single Point of Access for consultation and advice. CAMHS provide evidenced based treatment for mental health disorders. This can include medication and talking therapies on a 1-2-1, group or family basis. They offer face-to-face, web based, and telephone support on a needs-led basis.

Available Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm

Contact: 0300 123 6632.