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Dr. Busman said she works with children who can say, “I don’t want to kill myself but I feel so bad I don’t know what to do or say else.”
If a child talks about wanting to die, ask them what they mean and seek help from a therapist if this worries you. A statement like this can be a real signal that a child is in distress, so don’t dismiss it or write it down as something the child says just to get attention, she said. said.
How can treatment help?
“Parents should take the child’s symptoms very seriously,” said Jonathan Comer, professor of psychology and psychiatry at Florida International University. “In severe forms, it snowballs over time, and earlier onset is associated with worse outcomes throughout life.”
In a 2016 longitudinal study, Dr. Kovacs and her colleagues traced the course of depression from childhood and found recurring episodes later in life.
So if you notice changes like withdrawal from activities, irritability or sadness, fatigue or trouble sleeping that persist for two weeks, consider having the child evaluated by someone familiar with mental health issues. in children of this age. Start with your pediatrician, who will be familiar with the resources available in your area.
Parents should insist on a comprehensive mental health assessment, Dr Busman said, including collecting the parent’s story, spending time with the child and talking at school. An assessment should include questions about the symptoms of depression as well as looking for other problems, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or anxiety, which may be causing the distress. ‘child.
Early treatment works, said Dr Comer: “There is tremendous evidence for family-centered treatment for childhood depression – it focuses on family interactions and their impact on mood. With children ages 3-7, he said, versions of parent-child interaction therapy, known as PCIT, are often used – primarily to mentor parents and help them stress and stress. to praise what is positive in the behavior of their children.
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