Depression: Signs and symptoms

What are the main signs and symptoms of depression in children and teens?

The main signs and symptoms of depression fall into the following categories:

• emotional
• cognitive (thinking and reasoning)
• behavioural
• physical

Symptoms of depression in children and teens

Emotional symptoms

If your child or teen is depressed, they may experience:

• general low mood
  
• irritability (grumpiness, crankiness)
  
• a lack of interest in activities they previously enjoyed; some young people describe this as feeling “blah” or apathetic (more than might be typical for them or for their developmental stage)
  

Cognitive symptoms

A child or teen who experiences depression may:

• have generally negative thoughts about themselves or their environment (e.g., feeling guilty, worthless or hopeless)
• think about or voice thoughts about self-harm​, suicide, or wishing to no longer be around.

Behavioural symptoms

If a child or teen is depressed, they may change their behaviour or routine by:

• withdrawing from or avoiding activities they previously enjoyed
  
• avoiding school or social interactions
  
• sleeping more or less than usual; eating more or less than usual
  
• appearing “slower” (moving, speaking, or seeming to think more slowly)
  

Physical symptoms

Depression can have a number of physical effects on a child or teen, including:

• low energy
• trouble with concentration
• feeling physically slowed down
• feeling tense and restless

The symptom descriptions above are intended as examples of how your child ‘might’ appear if struggling with low mood. Not all depressed individuals appear the same. For example, young children may not be able to express how they are thinking or feeling but may complain more often of vague physical complaints such as nausea, stomach aches, or fatigue. Don’t wait until your child can verbalize their feelings, or until they seem troubled or unwell enough, to seek help if you believe that your child may be struggling with emotional well-being. Your child’s health-care provider can help to assess your child’s functioning and identify supports well-suited to their needs.

How depression is diagnosed

Your child's health-care provider will speak to you and/or your child or teen and ask you both about:

• your concerns and symptoms that are interfering with your child's everyday routine
  
• any current stressors in your child's life
  
• any event that could have triggered your child's depressive symptoms
  
• your child's development (from pregnancy onwards)
  
• your family's mental health history
  
• general family functioning and any stressors that might contribute to your child's symptoms
  

The health-care provider might ask you and your child, if they are old enough, to fill out rating scales to help them make a diagnosis. If the health-care provider identifies a number of signs and symptoms over a certain time, your child might meet the criteria for clinical depression.

What your child's health-care provider can do for depression

If your child is feeling depressed, you, your child and the health-care provider will decide together on the best treatment plan. This decision may need input from other members of your family or your child's teachers.

Your child’s health-care provider may also suggest that your child see a therapist or a psychiatrist and make lifestyle changes. They may also recommend medications​.

Further information

For more information on depression, please see the following pages:

Depression: Overview

Depression: Treatment with medications

Depression: Treatment with psychotherapy and lifestyle changes