How to Recognize Signs of Depression in Your Child

Stress from social media, bullying, and traumatic events like divorce are some of the reasons why children develop depression. It’s apparently happening more often to kids in Vermont.

The percentage of Vermont children with diagnosed depression increased from 4.3% in 2016 to 6.9% in 2022—a 60% jump—according to an analysis of Vermont claims data published in the Journal of Rural Mental Health. The depression rate was significantly higher among children covered by Medicaid, the analysis found, indicating that kids from lower-income families may be at greater risk.

Children with depression can also struggle with suicidal thoughts. About half of adolescents with major depressive disorder report having frequent suicidal thoughts, a study found. The problem is growing worse both nationally and here in Vermont.

• Almost 10% of high school students in the U.S. attempted suicide in the last year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found in its 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. That’s up from 7% in 2017.
• One in five high school students seriously considered attempting suicide in the past 12 months, the CDC survey found.
• Suicide attempts among Vermont high school students increased from 4.2% in 2009 to 7.4% in 2023, according to the Vermont Department of Health (VDH).
• The number of suicide-related visits to Vermont emergency departments is highest among the 15- to 24-year-old age group, VDH data shows.

To help you protect your children, we break down common warning signs of depression and suicidal thoughts. We also discuss how you can help a child who is showing signs of depression or considering suicide.

What is Depression in Children?

Any parent knows that kids can be moody. They can be happy one day and sad the next. These mood swings are often triggered by events in their lives, such as getting a poor grade in school. Most kids are resilient, however, and after a short time they usually feel better.

Depression is different than the temporary periods of sadness or irritability that most children go through. Depression is a persistent sadness that can linger for weeks or months. Children may begin to feel a sense of hopelessness and lose interest in activities. Depression can affect their sleep, eating habits, ability to concentrate, and social interaction.    

Depression Warning Signs

Early detection of depression is critical so that treatment can begin before depression becomes severe. Depression often gets worse the longer it goes untreated. The warning signs of depression in children include:

• Mood changes
• Feeling sad or hopeless for more than two weeks
• Lack of interest in activities
• Low energy or tiredness
• Lack of concentration
• Low self-esteem or saying negative things about themselves
• Eating too much or not eating enough to maintain weight
• Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
• Behavior changes (such as decline in school grades or achievements)
• Irritability or short temper
• Social isolation (lack of interest in making friends or maintaining social relationships)
• Being very sensitive to rejection or failure
• Increased thoughts related to death
• Difficulty making decisions
• Substance use or abuse
• Exhibiting self-injury or self-destructive behavior

Suicide Warning Signs

While some of the warning signs of depression can also indicate a child is having suicidal thoughts, here are additional signs to watch for:

• Talking about wanting to die or disappear
• Posting on social media about suicide or death
• Writing or drawing about death
• Giving away belongings
• Withdrawing from friends and family
• Being angry or hostile
• Taking unusual risks (such as driving too fast or recklessly)
• Searching online about ways to commit suicide
• Gathering potentially lethal items like medications, knives, or firearms
• Visiting or calling people to say goodbye
• Not planning or talking about the future  

How to Help Your Child

If you see warning signs of depression in your child, here’s what you can do to help:

• Contact your child’s pediatrician or primary care provider. They can check to see if your child’s symptoms are being caused by physical issues, such as an illness or chronic condition. The primary care provider can determine if it’s depression and may refer your child to a mental health professional for treatment.
• Listen to your child and support them. Ask how your child is feeling, both physically and mentally. Listen to their answers without making judgments and take action to address issues they bring up.
• Get other adults involved. Ask your child’s teachers, coaches, and friends’ parents if they’ve noticed any changes in your child’s behavior. Request that they let you know about any out-of-ordinary behavior they see.
• Track how your child is doing. Write down in a journal the observations you make about your child’s behavior, such as how they are eating and sleeping. Also note their energy levels and interest in activities. Keeping a journal will enable you to recognize changes over time and share those observations with your child’s healthcare provider.
• Limit social media. Excessive use of social media is linked to an increased risk of mental health problems in children, including depression and anxiety. Consider limiting your child’s use of social media by establishing phone-free times, such as during meals or an hour before bedtime. Review their social media feeds and help them unfollow accounts that feature negative content which makes them feel bad about themselves. Install an app on their phone that allows you to set time limits and block specific sites. Encourage offline activities like spending time with friends face-to-face. Check out our blog on healthy alternatives to doomscrolling.
• Create a healthy environment for your child. You can help improve your child’s mental health by ensuring they are eating well-balanced meals, getting plenty of sleep, exercising regularly, and have a safe environment at home and school.

If your child is showing signs of considering or attempting suicide, here’s what to do:

• Call 988 right away. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available in Vermont and nationally. Crisis counselors are available 24/7 to speak with you and your child. They can also link you with local resources. Chat and text are available.
• If your child is in immediate danger, call 911 or take them to the nearest hospital emergency department.
• Talk with your child. Ask direct questions, be open and willing to listen. Don’t be judgmental. Allow your child to express their feelings. Show understanding and compassion. Take their concerns seriously and don’t ignore them.
• Help keep them safe. Remove or secure any means of suicide, such as firearms or potentially lethal medications.
• Connect your child with professional help. Make your child’s mental health professional aware of their recent thoughts about suicide. If your child doesn’t already see a mental health professional, you can locate one using our Find-a-Doctor tool. Blue Cross VT members also have 24/7 access to mental health professionals through telemedicine services.
• Follow up to see how they’re doing. Continue to talk with your child to monitor how they’re doing and provide support.

Educate Yourself

Depression and suicide prevention are important topics for parents to understand. We’ve only briefly touched on them in this blog post. You can help your child by taking the time to learn more.

Check out our blog posts on the warning signs of depression and finding a mental health provider.

Here are additional resources for you to use:

Facing Suicide VT 
Vermont Care Partners 
National Institute of Mental Health 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention