Well-Being
Just the BLUES — or Cause for Concern?
WHEN TO SEEK HELP FOR YOUR CHILD By Dawn Garzon, PhD, CPNP, PNP-BC, PMHS, FAANP
should you worry? Your 15-year-old breaks up with his first
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love, is sad and is staying in his room — is this normal? Your ten-year-old is struggling in school and no longer enjoys playing soccer — is this a sign of something serious? Kids face a lot of pressure and it is normal for them to be stressed or feel blue at times, but how do you know if what your child is dealing with is normal or cause for concern? Depression is one of the leading mental health issues in older children and adoles- cents. About five percent of children and adolescents meet the criteria for a depres- sion diagnosis. It is a serious disease that impacts one’s ability to relate to others, to perform well in school and work and, if left untreated, it could result in suicide — the third leading cause of death for 10- to 24- year-olds. But depression is a condition that with the right care can be treated and does not have to negatively impact someone’s long-term happiness and success. There are many things that parents can
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our seven-year-old comes home from school and says that no one likes her —
do to help children and teens to develop a good sense of self and to learn how to man- age their emotions. Kids develop best when they come from loving homes, with caregiv- ers who set appropriate boundaries for behavior, and who teach them how to deal with negative emotions. This starts early by teaching children how to express anger, sadness and fear in a way that is productive and doesn’t just result in a “meltdown.” It also comes from praising children for good behavior and good emotion manage- ment, not just correcting when a child gets overwhelmed. Children need to know that adults get angry, scared, sad and over- whelmed sometimes. Using statements such as, “I don’t like it when people say things I think are mean either. This is what I do when this happens…” can show children that a full range of emotions are normal. Avoid situations that leave your children
overtired, hungry or stressed out. Good nutrition, sleep habits and exercise help im- prove mood and are good for mental health. Make sure your kids have downtime. Most children do well with one or two activities outside of school. Overscheduling can stress
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