Too many children suffering from the symptoms of depression will never be identified, and they won't receive the treatment they need and deserve.
Many parents didn't notice that their children had been clinically depressed until months or even years after the initial symptoms appeared.
Yet if they had known what to look for, these parents would certainly have sought help for their children.
Measuring children by the same yardstick we use for adults is one of the problems - a depressed child may seem cranky and rebellious at home, yet her withdrawn behavior in school may send a signal that a teacher can't interpret properly.
Aggressive or hyperactive children are sure to attract the notice of teachers, while the shy, quiet child may not get the attention she desperately needs.
When a teacher does make a referral to a psychologist, it's usually because a child is misbehaving and disturbing the class.
A child, who jumps out of his seat every five minutes, interrupts the teacher in the middle of a lesson, frequently fights with peers, and talks back to school staff is likely to be referred to a psychologist.
The child who is hurting inside but isn't bothering anyone else is often ignored, even though he may be in severe emotional distress.
While depressed children may exhibit behavioral difficulties in the school setting, their symptoms tend to be more covert and are more difficult for adults to notice.
Because depressed children tend to feel less secure at school than they do at home, they are more likely to avoid getting negative attention from teachers and administrators in school.
Signs Of Child Depression Most people don't know how to recognized depression in children.
Simon had many of the signs: he was sad, irritable, angry, alienated from other children, and doing poorly in school.
But it was only his talk of killing himself that got the attention of his mother.
He had been suffering from severe depression for a full year before his suicidal symptoms led to treatment.
Living with depression is, in many ways, more painful for a child than suffering from a physical injury.
A child with a broken leg has a wound that everyone can see and a cast that friends can sign as a means of expressing their concern.
Instead of having an obvious boo-boo, depressed children often seem to be wearing an invisible sign that reads, "I'm unhappy.
Don't bother me.
" Even though they may communicate a nonverbal message that says, "keep away," children suffering from depression are desperate to have people care about them and offer the comfort of support.
A child is unlikely to come to his father after dinner one evening and say that he is suffering from depression.
But a parent who knows what to look for can recognize signs that a child is experiencing something more troublesome than just a bad day.
To know more about How to Recognize the Signs and Symptoms of Teenage Depression, click here.