Depression

For parents/carers

Children and young people often experience a range of emotional difficulties – sometimes related to the changes brought about by puberty, due to going through the process of developing a sense of identity or school, family or friendship pressures.

These emotional difficulties can often make it difficult to differentiate between what might be ‘normal’ and the start of a mood disorder. Consult a mental health professional for a diagnosis if their mood is persistently low, if they are not enjoying things they used to, if you notice that their sleep and appetite have changed to impact them negatively, if they are self-harming or have lost motivation and have a negative sense of future.