Depression is different to ‘normal’ sadness and is a mental health disorder with pervasive low mood, loss of interest and enjoyment and increased tiredness. There are several other signs and symptoms which along with above features together would help in diagnosing a clinical depression. To provide comprehensive children’s depression treatment in Wales, the psychiatrist at the centre performs a thorough diagnosis first, which includes identifying the symptoms.
Depression in children and adolescents is common. Some of the features of depression in adolescents include:
It is often unclear when is the right time to seek help. If you have any concern about your child, you should contact your GP first. Your GP would be able to identify depression and point you in the right direction. You could see a child and adolescent psychiatrist for further assessment and diagnosis. The diagnosis is based on the information from the child/adolescent in a Psychiatric interview, using relevant questionnaires (when needed), getting collateral information from family/carers, and carrying out a complete mental state examination.
There is a lot of evidence based on research that accessing the treatment early not only improves the mental health of the child but also reduces the chances of recurrence in adulthood. The best children’s depression treatment in Wales offered at Wales Psychiatry Centre is multimodal and includes the use of pharmacology, psychological interventions, social interventions, as well as management of risks associated with the illness.
First step is to talk to them. Do not ignore or minimise their problems. They may seem trivial to you, but they are important to them.
Mild to moderate cases of depression may best respond with the psychosocial interventions which may include lifestyle changes, exercising, using coping strategies, and use of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
In some cases of moderate depression and in severe depression, use of Antidepressants can be very helpful pharmacological intervention. SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) are considered as the first line of medication option. There are other medications available as well which you could discuss with your psychiatrist during the consultation.
( From Monday to Friday, doctors can be reached through phone for consultations. )
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