"The grey drizzle of horror," author William Styron memorably called depression. The mood disorder may descend seemingly out of the blue, or it may come on the heels of a defeat or personal loss, producing persistent feelings of sadness, worthlessness, hopelessness, helplessness, pessimism , or guilt . Depression also interferes with concentration , motivation , and other aspects of everyday functioning.
Children and Depression
Mental health conditions such as depression are increasingly afflicting the young, including preschoolers. Especially in the young, depression requires active treatment—it can interfere with normal development.
Depression can show up in children much as it does in adults, signified by sadness, lethargy, and disinterest. But especially among children it manifests as irritability. Other times it manifests as anger and acting out.
Depression in children can have many causes. It can be a response to bullying . There is ample evidence that social media plays a role in depression among young people. Another source may be the decline of free play, an arena in which children traditionally work out their concerns and a great source of pleasure.
For more see Children and Depression .
Explore More About Depression
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