Depression and low mood in children and teenagers
It is natural for children to feel sad, irritable, or upset from time to time. However, if your child persistently has a low mood or feels ‘blue’ for long periods to the extent that it starts to have a major impact on their life, it may be indicative of depression.
Depression is a serious mood disorder, characterised by persistent sadness, a feeling of hopelessness, loss of interest in activities, and mood changes. It also hinders the child’s ability to enjoy and perform well at school, engage in social interactions, and carry out other normal childhood activities. Often, the signs of depression are hard to identify in children and teenagers as mood and behavioural changes are interpreted as normal emotional and psychological changes. However, it is essential to identify and treat depression in its early stages as more severe depression can be associated with self harm and suicidal thoughts.
If you have observed your child experiencing long periods of low mood and sadness, clinical psychology therapy for depression could help. Effective talking therapies such as CBT, used by highly experienced clinicians, are available with our clinic in the North West London area and online.
How do I know if my child or teenager has depression and low mood?
The most common presenting symptoms of depression include sadness and low mood that does not seem to go away, excessive irritability, and persistent feelings of hopelessness, tiredness, and exhaustion.
You may also notice that your son or daughter is exhibiting the following:
- Loss of interest in activities previously enjoyed
- Social withdrawal and isolating oneself from others
- Talking about feelings of guilt and worthlessness
- Difficulties in concentrating
- Changes in appetite
- Sleep problems
- Having suicidal thoughts or wanting to self-harm
Physical symptoms may include:
- Fatigue and lack of energy
- Complaining of aches and pains such as a headache or stomach ache
- Changes in weight
Depression left untreated can pose significant problems to your child’s quality of life, and can negatively impact their development. Peer relationships and academic performance may also deteriorate. Seeking help is the best way to combat depression, so please get in touch if you believe your child struggles with any of the above symptoms.
How can I help my child or teenager with depression and low mood?
If you have noticed the above symptoms in your child, we recommend you get in touch to book a free telephone consultation.
As a parent, it can be distressing to watch your child or teenager struggle with depression. The good news is there are evidence-based, modern, and effective counselling and therapy methods for depression available in North West London with Harwood Child Psychology. Our approach of using only rigorously tested and NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) approved treatments dramatically increases the chance of seeing real improvements in your child.
At Harwood Child Psychology we offer cost-effective, evidence-based treatment with a highly-qualified clinical psychologist. You can be sure that your child or teenager is in safe hands. We pride ourselves on a high quality, warm and compassionate service that can help your son or daughter overcome their depression. After a thorough assessment, we conduct gold-standard treatments recommended for depression such as psychotherapy (counselling) and talking therapies. Alongside full therapy, we provide parenting support and behavioural management for the child to help them understand their symptoms and learn the necessary techniques to help them gain control of their low mood.
Where medication is required, your child will be paired with a consultant psychiatrist who will manage and prescribe the necessary drugs to help manage low mood. Medication is a very personal choice and there are many other forms of treatment available that do not require medication.
Harwood Child Psychology provides engaging and effective therapy for depression in Muswell Hill, Crouch End, Highgate, Hampstead, Finchley and the wider North West London area.
