Signs of Depression During the Coronavirus Crisis
Advice from Caroline Miller, Editorial Director at The Child Mind Institute
As the coronavirus crisis continues to hold us in its grip, one thing we need to be alert for is depression in our children as well as ourselves. Feeling down in this time of forced inactivity and constant uncertainty is unavoidable, and it is understandable that many people may be struggling to stay positive. But depression is more than just feeling sad or having bad days. A child who seems to be stuck in a negative mood — feeling hopeless and not able to enjoy anything — may be suffering from depression and may need help to bounce back.
Depression is a disorder that most often begins in adolescence, but it can occur in children as young as preschool age. Kids who have a history of depression are particularly at risk during this stressful time, but significant upsetting events like the pandemic can also trigger depression in children who have not shown any signs of it previously. Mark Reinecke, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist and the clinical director of the Child Mind Institute, San Francisco Bay Area, outlines three steps parents should take to guard against depression.
Be aware of the signs of depression
Depression can be easy to miss, especially in teenagers since adolescents often are moody. But with sadness and irritability understandably widespread during this crisis, the signs can be even easier for family members to overlook, even in children. Likewise, kids and teens who are struggling may not recognize their own symptoms for what they are.
Symptoms of depression include:
- Unusual sadness or irritability, persisting even when circumstances change
- Loss of interest in activities they once enjoyed; reduced feelings of anticipation
- Changes in weight
- Shifts in sleep patterns
- Sluggishness
- Harsh self-assessment (“I’m ugly. I’m no good. I’ll never make friends.”)
- Feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness
- Thoughts of or attempts at suicide
If several of these symptoms are present for at least two weeks, they can suggest depression. “If you see them, take note,” advises Dr. Reinecke. “If they last, take action.”
With everyone struggling, it can be hard to know how to tell the difference between a child who’s just feeling sad, irritable, or overwhelmed by the crisis (who isn’t right now?) and a child who is slipping into depression. The watchwords, says Rachel Busman, Psy.D., a clinical psychologist at the Child Mind Institute are persistence and severity. “If it’s here today but they’re okay tomorrow, that to me is not a cause for concern,” she explains, “What’s more of a concern is when it persists. You want to be on the lookout for changes in sleep, mood, appetite, and general engagement.
Help kids feel comfortable talking about feelings
The second thing parents can do, Dr. Reinecke advises, is foster a family environment in which children feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings. Make time to sit down and explore how they’re doing. Kids may need a little prompting. With so much going on in the world, older kids might worry that their feelings aren’t important, and younger kids might not have the words to explain what they’re feeling. Find a time and a place where you aren’t likely to be interrupted. If you get in the habit of checking in with your children, and they know they’ll be listened to without judgment, they’re more likely to let you know what’s going on.
If a child is experiencing feelings of sadness or depression, take some time to talk about why. It’s easy for them to say “the virus,” and stop there. But encouraging your child to be specific can give both of you more insight into what’s happening, and how you can help. For example: Is your child struggling with feeling boredom or from the loss of their regular activities? From disappointment over cancelled events? From feeling isolated from friends? From worries about the future, or fears that they or someone they love might get sick, or even die?
“Very often, depressed children and teens, like adults, have negative thoughts about themselves, their lives, their relationships and their future,” notes Dr. Reinecke. “They feel hopeless, helpless, and discouraged. Listen for these thoughts. Help them to clarify what’s on their mind and how they’re feeling.”
When kids do share, validate their feelings by listening to them without judgment, and without trying to “fix” them. Let them know that you hear them (without agreeing with what they’re saying) and you’re there for them. For example, “I hear that. That sounds really hard. I love you, I’m sorry you’re feeling so sad.”
Take steps to engage your depressed child
If you’re worried your child is sliding into depression, don’t panic. There are things you can do to help at home. Encouraging them to make changes in how they’re thinking and how they manage their feelings can help head off serious depression before it gets worse. Start by helping your child:
- Stay active. Encourage kids to engage in activities that will give them a sense of accomplishment, pleasure, fun, or social connection every day. Doing something for others can lift spirits. Activity itself helps protect against (and sometimes treat) depression.
- Keep a sense of perspective. People experiencing depression often magnify problems or only pay attention only to negative information, screening out positive events and experiences. Help your child avoid exaggerating or obsessing on how bad things are right now. As parents it helps if you model this for your children, by avoiding what clinicians call “catastrophizing” – obsessing over terrible things that “could happen” or only focusing on the worst possible outcomes.
- Tolerate uncertainty and ambiguity. These are uncertain times. There are no guarantees (other than that the pandemic will end and that, at some point, we’ll return to a more normal life). Mindfulness practices can help your child resist obsessing on frightening possibilities and accept the uncertainty of the moment. You can help by expressing confidence that they can manage it.
- Challenge negative thoughts. Getting stuck in negative thinking patterns that are distorted or unrealistic can contribute to depression and make painful feelings seem overwhelming. This can be especially difficult to combat right now. Encourage your child to evaluate the evidence for the things that upset them, for example, if your child feels like this will go on forever and they’ll never see their friends again. Go through the facts: Realistically, this will not go on forever. So, what are some things they could do to feel more connected with friends in the meantime?
- Make plans. Work together to come up with a plans or activities that will help them feel more engaged. For example: If taking an online dance class would help them get some much-needed exercise, get started by looking up classes online and make a project of creating a practice space. If they’re bored, agree you’ll both try to learn a new skill or sport. Or if they just miss being social, encourage them to start a FaceTime book group, or make a nightly Zoom date to watch a miniseries with friends. The act of making plans, completing fun tasks, and coming up with strategies, can make them feel less helpless and hopeless.
- Make new goals. When you’ve lost something valued in your life, as we all have lately, it helps to find something to replace it. Help your kids make new goals. If sports or other valued activities are not happening, what else can they focus on now? What new skill can they learn that will be beneficial when this situation is over? What can they do to benefit others?
- Focus on gratitude. Encourage kids to list and reflect each day on things they feel grateful for and individuals they owe thanks. How can they express that gratitude?
How to seek treatment
If your child continues to show symptoms of depression, it’s important to get professional help. Speak with your child’s pediatrician or primary care physician to get a referral for a mental health professional, or contact a mental health professional directly. Getting teenagers into treatment for depression can take persistence, because they often feel hopeless, and they may have a hard time believing that they can get better. But treatment really can help.
There are several different kinds of therapy and medication that have all been proven to be effective for children and adolescents. Another challenge can be finding treatment, as many clinicians are not seeing patients in person during the crisis. But many have begun seeing patients through telehealth — online or by text or phone — during the coronavirus crisis, and therapy through telehealth has been shown to be effective too. And if you child is experiencing suicidal thoughts, it’s important to seek emergency care immediately. If you think your child or adolescent is suicidal, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or 911 if there is an emergency. Don’t hesitate—the risk of suicide in children and adolescents is all too real.
In this stressful time, monitoring your own mental well-being is as important as being alert to your children’s needs. With all the competing demands on your time, self-care can seem like a luxury, but it’s not. Your mood affects your whole family, so giving yourself the attention you need — and professional help if you need it, too — is critical to the resilience you need to get through this crisis.
