13 Jul Depression Does Not Fade Away When the School Year Ends

Did your child seem tired and irritable during the school year? Were their grades slipping? Did they retreat socially from their friends and siblings? These may have been subtle symptoms of depression. But now, without school there are no grades to slip and not as much stress, it may be easier to miss these telltale signs of depression. Just because your child seems better doesn’t mean that anything has changed.

Depression is not a phase and definitely doesn’t disappear once summer starts. The only thing that changes is how your child expresses their depressive symptoms. They may be slightly off their normal self: more morose, flat or apathetic. Many parents shrug these characteristics off as normal teenage behavior but it’s important to make an effort to stay in touch with your child’s behavior and personality.

Don’t avoid, don’t ignore, and certainly don’t be afraid. This is the time when a child or teen needs help and guidance. Pretending everything’s okay when it isn’t only prolongs the problem. Addressing it by obtaining a professional evaluation by a physician (psychiatrist) will help put things in perspective and shows everyone, especially your child or teen that they are not alone.

Want to read more about the importance of getting a professional evaluation by a psychiatrist? Click here!