Recognizing signs of depression in children

(Dan Tri) - Mistaking their children for impulsiveness, many parents miss the signs of depression in their children. However, behind the silence and withdrawal, there may be a desperate cry for help from their children.

Sharing with Dan Tri reporter , Master Phung Thi Lua, Department of High Quality Clinic - Psychology, Children's Hospital 2, could not help but feel heartbroken when recalling the recent cases of depression that she treated.

Children cut their hands and have seizures due to depression.

Female student HH (15 years old, living in District 10) was admitted to the hospital with symptoms of convulsions, abdominal pain, and long-term difficulty breathing. Previously, H. had been examined at many hospitals but still could not detect the disease. At Children's Hospital 2, her family was advised to transfer to a Psychology specialist.

Recalling the time he met female student H., Master Lua could not forget her pale face due to prolonged stomach pain and her sad eyes.

During the consultation, H. said that for the past 8 months she had been suffering from loss of appetite, only going to bed at 1-2am, headaches, stomachaches, and loss of interest in life. Many times, she was irritable or cried loudly for no reason. She only liked to be alone in a closed room, and had thoughts of cutting her wrists to commit suicide.

However, it was not until the last 2 weeks, when signs of seizures appeared, that the family took H. to see a doctor.

“H. is the second child in a family of three children, of which the oldest has a mental retardation and the third is in kindergarten. His parents expect him to study well instead of his second brother, so H. always feels disappointed when he doesn’t get a perfect score.

She also always put pressure on herself to have a good job in the future to take care of her brother and family, which gradually led to negativity," said Master Lua.

Putting pressure on herself causes female students to be stressed, which over time leads to depression (Illustration: iStock).

A similar case to H. is a 9th grader in Vung Tau. Since 7th grade, she began to face difficult days at school. The girl loves to sing, has a clear voice, but every time she sings in class meetings, she is ridiculed by her friends.

"What a terrible song!", "It's so harsh!" - these harsh words were like knives stabbing into the sensitive heart of the 14-year-old girl. Not only that, the female student was also criticized about her appearance and mocked about her academic performance, even though she always tried to get good grades in class.

Living a closed life with few friends, the female student became an easy target for verbal bullying. Malicious jokes and mocking looks in class made her increasingly self-conscious. Every day at school was a challenge, she often sat quietly in the corner of the classroom, trying to hide herself so no one would notice.

But the pressure did not stop. From 7th to 9th grade, those cruel words followed like a dark cloud, causing the girl to fall into despair. She started to hurt herself, using a knife to cut her wrists to relieve the pain in her heart. She hid the scars by always wearing long-sleeved shirts.

What was even more heartbreaking was that her parents, despite being experienced teachers, did not notice any unusual signs in their child. They were busy with work and always believed that their child was just going through a "rebellious phase" of adolescence.

The girl hoped someone would notice and ask, but her parents' indifference made her feel even more lonely.

One day, when the pain reached its peak, the female student told her parents to take her to the doctor.

"At that time, I had to both treat the child psychologically and guide the parents to handle the problem thoroughly. After 2 months, the child's condition began to improve and stabilize," Master Lua recalled.

Parents need to have the right awareness of childhood depression to promptly detect and handle abnormalities in their children (Illustration: iStock).

Young people come to see a doctor for depression

Dr. Nguyen Thanh Sang, Head of the Department of High Quality Clinic - Psychology, Children's Hospital 2, said that every year, the department receives many children coming to examine symptoms of depression. The children are usually 13-16 years old.

When coming to the clinic, the child showed symptoms such as sadness, anxiety, low self-esteem, difficulty sleeping, sleeping little or sleeping a lot, loss of appetite or overeating, not wanting to interact, loss of interest, loss of concentration, poor academic performance, etc.

According to MSc. Phung Thi Lua, depression is a mental disorder, characterized by feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and lack of motivation lasting for a long time.

People with depression may lose interest in activities they previously enjoyed, feel anxious or tired, or have negative thoughts about themselves and life.

Symptoms of depression in children and adults are not much different.

Early signs of depression include difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much; loss of appetite, loss of appetite or eating more than usual; not wanting to exercise, staying in the room a lot, changes in living habits, decreased attention; fatigue, lack of energy; sadness, anxiety or feeling empty...

Children cry easily, get angry easily; have low self-esteem, self-harm, negative thoughts, suicidal thoughts….

Children with depression can have many causes such as genetics, school violence, conflicts with parents, a lot of academic pressure or experiencing a major event...

Depression can be cured if detected early. According to Master Lua, parents need to have the right awareness of depression in children. As soon as they notice unusual signs in their children, parents should take their children to specialized pediatric facilities or psychological clinics for early examination and timely treatment.

Depression in children not only affects their mood but also their physical health and quality of life. If detected late, the disease can lead to a more serious condition, longer treatment time, and significantly affect the child's life and social relationships.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/nhan-biet-dau-hieu-tram-cam-o-tre-20250703160649339.htm