| Are you the parent of a child who is often | | | | talk to me about any aspect of their life and |
| depressed? Are you a child who often feels | | | | that I will be here to help and not judge |
| down in the dumps and depressed? This article | | | | them. Life in general, with school as an |
| offers advice for both parents, other family | | | | example, can at times be quite tough, with |
| members and children about how to deal with, | | | | things such as bullying affecting a lot of |
| reduce and even eradicate this depression. | | | | children. There is the added pressure of |
| | | | examinations and also trying to establish |
| I remember from my own childhood having many | | | | ones self within a group of friends. Moving |
| periods when I was very unhappy and sad. I | | | | schools and going through all of the bodily |
| was the type of person who would let aspects | | | | changes can also be quite uncomfortable for |
| from my life get on top of me which would at | | | | many children. |
| times affect my sleep patterns. I found | | | | |
| growing up through childhood, into a teenager | | | | As a family we try to make our childrens home |
| and ultimately into my adulthood as one big | | | | life as enjoyable and relaxed as possible. |
| choir and struggle. I was forever comparing | | | | This includes many family days out and where |
| my own life to that of my brother, sister and | | | | financially possible, a family holiday abroad |
| friends. Their lives seemed so much easier | | | | in the summer. |
| than what mine was and this made me feel | | | | |
| quite jealous of them. | | | | My advice to any parent who has an unhappy or |
| | | | often depressed child would be to be very |
| Looking back one of my faults was that I was | | | | patient with them through these periods. I, |
| not willing to discuss my worries and fears | | | | as I have already stated would try and get |
| with my parents and basically kept them | | | | them to talk about what is making them feel |
| bottled up inside of me. This meant of course | | | | in this way and if they do not want to talk, |
| that I had to deal with each and every issue | | | | would let them know that I am there for them |
| (problem) on my own without any outside help | | | | if they do ever want a chat etc. |
| or advice. I wish that I had been more open | | | | |
| with my family as I think my life would have | | | | My advice for a child who is feeling |
| been that much happier if I had. | | | | depressed would be to talk to your family, a |
| | | | friend or a teacher. They say that a problem |
| I am now a parent of two children myself and | | | | shared is a problem halved and I really |
| am always looking out for them. I try and | | | | believe in this statement. You do not have to |
| gage how they are coping with life and if I | | | | be alone in this world and the advice that |
| feel that they are in an unhappy period or | | | | you are given could be of huge benefit to |
| mood, I then attempt to find out what is | | | | you. Despite what you might think all |
| causing this by trying to talk to them. They | | | | children have problems and worry about many |
| are not always happy to discuss these issues | | | | different aspects of their own life. Your |
| but I then make sure that they understand | | | | parents were of course children many moons |
| that I will be here for them when they are | | | | ago and may have experience in the issues |
| ready to open up. I talk to them about my own | | | | which you are not happy about. Do not make |
| childhood and about the mistakes I feel that | | | | the same mistakes that I did by keeping these |
| I made by keeping my own worries to myself. | | | | problems to yourself as it does not help to |
| | | | reduce your fears or depression. |
| I want my children to realise that they can | | | | |