About Childhood Depression:
Unlike normal sadness, childhood depression is a mental state in which a child is severely feeling down and it is affecting their ability to function in daily life. According to Medicine.net, more than 16% of children in America are affected sometime in their lives and the rates are continuously increasing not only in America, but also in other countries as well. While it typically occurs at a rate of 2% in children who are about to reach their teenage years, it also occurs in about 5%-8% of adolescents and those who are younger.
Childhood depression is a severe issue affecting many children and teens. As stated in Medicine.net,
“About 3,000 adolescents and young adults die by suicide each year in the United States, making it the third leading cause of death in people 10-24 years of age.”
According Very well mind, the following are the most common types of depression:
- Major depressive disorder– a condition in which a child experiences episodes of depression that usually last for 7 to 9 months
- dysthymia disorder– a chronic mood disorder usually lasting up to at least 2 years
- bipolar disorder– a condition in which a child experiences maniac and depressive episodes
For more information, watch this video below:
Video from: Psych2Go
The video above illustrates the different types of depressive disorders and describes the attributes of each condition. It also clears up common misconceptions regarding depression.
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