Symptoms of depression in children

Children who are depressed may have the same symptoms as adults. However, symptoms of depression are often overlooked in children. Adults may mistakenly believe that the symptoms are expected behaviors in children. Some behaviors that may alert adults that children are depressed include:

• Being irritable and crying for no apparent reason.
• Avoiding friends and social activities. Children who are depressed are often shunned by their classmates.
• Doing poorly in school or refusing to go to school.
• Paying little attention to their personal appearance.
• Having behavior problems such as having temper tantrums, becoming sexually active, or using alcohol and illegal drugs.
• Not getting along well with parents. Children who are depressed may avoid hugs and other signs of affection from their parents.
• Physical complaints (such as headache or stomachache) with no apparent cause.

For more information, see the topic Depression in Children and Teens.