Depression continues to be a taboo topic within our societies. The reality is that it’s not just adults who suffer from it; children do, too. Here’s what you need to know.
According to the World Health Organization, between 10% and 20% of children as well as adolescents suffer from mental health disorders. Additionally, half of all mental illnesses begin by the age of 14. These mental health disorders include depression, a growing trend in children. More alarming is that this condition can be hard to diagnose, even though most children show a wide range of emotions from an early age. These include feeling down, angry or emotional difficulty. “The difference with depression is that it is more serious than just a bad day. But, it can be hard to diagnose because different children show different symptoms,” says Mary Mazibuko, a counsellor based in Soweto. Depression in children has similar symptoms to that of adults. This includes sadness, hopelessness, loss of interest in hobbies and trouble concentrating, among others. “Another reason why it is hard to diagnose children is that most people do not believe that they can be depressed, and the symptoms vary. By the time a child is diagnosed, other possible problems have likely been ruled out first,” Mary explains. However, the reality is that children as young as six, sometimes even younger, can be depressed.
WHEN SOMETHING IS WRONG
This story is from the February 2018 edition of Bona.
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This story is from the February 2018 edition of Bona.
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