Depression moving in

"IT ALL STARTED I guess half way through third year. There was non stop talk about studying ... I began to slow down. I just didn't have any energy. I was constantly fatigued. I blamed myself for everything and was constantly arguing with my parents."

One fifth year secondary student vividly describes her descent into depression in a school essay. We know, from the rise in teen suicides, and the calls for help to Childline, that many children and teenagers suffer seriously from emotional problems. But how can a parent know when normal moodiness becomes something more severe, and if they suspect something is wrong, what should they do about it?

The first thing is to say that so far, psychologists here don't know all that much about childhood depression it is largely unresearched by comparison with countries like the US, according to consultant child psychiatrist Dr Carol Fitzpatrick.

What we do appear to know is that 1 to 2 per cent of children under 12 and 5 per cent of those aged 12 to 18 suffer from depressive disorders. These can range from mild to severe some are curable simply by sympathetic help from family and school. Other children may need therapy still others, with more severe depression, may need medication.

A lot of us, faced with the symptoms caused by depression, may react impatiently, feeling that a short sharp dose of work, or sport, or some kind of useful activity, will cure the child. But of course if a child is truly suffering from depression, this is about as useful as telling an adult sufferer to "pull himself together".

Julie Healy of AWARE reckons that Dr Fitzpatrick's advice on how to identify a child's depression is a sound guide if a child stops taking pleasure in something he or she previously enjoyed, this, along with other indicators disturbed sleep, worsened school performance, loss of appetite suggests they might be depressed.

However, identifying depression in a child is not easy. For one thing, it will present itself differently in different age groups young babies, for example, can be depressed, particularly if they don't get stimulation. (Think of those televised scenes from various foreign orphanages.)

A four to 12 year old who's depressed is often disengaged, uninterested, and labelled "bold". This can be the child who doesn't bother doing homework, or even making lame excuses to conceal it. They might not play, or mix with peers. If a child sits in front of the TV all the time, and can't be engaged in other activities, it could be a sign of depression.

As for teenagers, depression is often reflected in extreme apathy. But there isn't one checklist of symptoms, and the only way a parent can find out if their child is depressed is by talking to them.

"Parents need to establish a good relationship with their children in normal times so they'll be able to talk in times of crisis," says Paul Gilligan, the ISPCC's director of services and a child psychologist. They should also encourage teens' friendships with children their own age, who can be very helpful.

THERE IS NOT usually a single cause of depression in children. It can be triggered by a combination of causes, from the child's own personality, family and genetic factors and events in the child's life.

Major losses, from death or marriage breakdown, will certainly affect children, and depression might result.

If you feel that your child is suffering from depression, it is probably wise to bring him or her to your GP it would obviously be important to ensure your child hasn't got a physical illness. Your GP could then, if you agree it is appropriate, refer you to a psychologist.

Professional help may not be necessary. Fitzpatrick stresses that many children with mild disorders can be helped if parents are aware of how they are feeling and take steps to reduce stress in the child's life.

But if you do want it, you can ask for a referral to a local child guidance clinic. If you are hunting out a therapist yourself, Gilligan advises you get the help of a recognised professional body like the Psychological Society of Ireland.

You could encourage your child to phone Childline it's an anonymous listening service, and they might feel more comfortable if they don't have to talk to someone face to face. Or look out for an ISPCC organised STEPS youth advice and counselling service these are a drop in centre version of Childline, staffed by young volunteers, who'll talk to kids who drop in about anything from how to get tickets for a pop concert or write a CV to what to do about feeling sad.

There are STEPS centres in Dublin, Limerick, Cork, Tralee, Clonmel, Sligo, and Wexford (with numbers in relevant phone books).

And even if a child or teenager is reluctant to get help, it really is your responsibility to do something if you fear your child is depressed.