Being a child or teenager is not always easy. Children and teens must navigate different environments at home and at school. It is completely normal for children and teens to feel down or sad at times, and because of this, it can be extremely difficult to distinguish between what constitutes a normal mood shift and what constitutes depression. If your child or teen’s mood remains down, irritable, or sad for an extended period of time, or their functioning has changed, a depressive disorder may be present.

Some common symptoms of depression may include:

• Depressed and sad mood persisting for longer than two weeks
• Reduced or no interest in things you previously liked doing
• Insomnia
• Fatigue or loss of energy
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
• Suicidal thoughts
• Changes in appetite (increase or decrease)
• Changes in school performance (drop in grades)

At Union Square Practice, our child and adolescent clinicians have extensive experience working with children and adolescents who may be struggling with depression. At USP, we understand that there is no one size fits all approach to treating depression. Thus, our clinicians take a holistic and collaborative approach to come up with a tailored treatment plan that works for your child and your family.