Feb 3, 2006 10:10 pm US/Central
Diagnosing Depression In Children
(CBS 11 News) Childhood should be the most care-free time in
someone's life, but North Texas school officials say the number of
students suffering from depression mirrors the national average. One in
five Americans will suffer from depression some time in their lives.
Doctors
say it isn't easy to diagnose depression in children. Many parents
believe the symptoms are simply behavioral problems. That's why knowing
the warning signs are so important.
"I ain't planning no more
to kill myself," says 15 year old Amy Gutierrez. Amy now knows her
sadness and anger led to her depression. The Dallas high school student
says problems at home led her to skip school, take drugs and attempt
suicide. Amy credits her sister with saving her life.
Amy
says, "And if it wasn't for her I would have been dead right now. I
would have done it. But if my sister had not been there, if I was by
myself, I would have done it." Many young people do commit suicide.
It's the third leading cause of death for 15 to 24 year olds.
Doctor
Rosemarie Allen with the Dallas Independent School District agrees,
"Very frequently a suicidal child may write a note to a friend, may
draw a picture in class, may do an essay where they start to talk about
harming themselves."
Amy says she repeatedly locked herself in
her room - and felt isolated. But she isn't alone when it comes to
dealing with depression -- one in 5 children suffer from it. Amy
explains, she was hesitant to seek treatment, "You know, I was afraid
talking to a person that I didn't know."
Amy's mother sought
help and got it at one of D.I.S.D.'s nine Youth and Family centers. Dr.
Allen says the program has seen great results. "If you can treat the
child and the family and the school folks, the people who are dealing
with that child day-to-day at the school, if they're working together
as three entities in support of the child, then very, very frequently,
most frequently, good things happen," according to Allen.
The
risk factors for depression are numerous but include: a family history
of depression, excessive stress, abuse or neglect, chronic illness and
trauma. The symptoms include persistent feelings of sadness,
hopelessness, low self-esteem, excessive guilt and a loss of interest
in activities once enjoyed.
And it is possible to get better.
Amy knows, "I'm doing much better now. I'm raising my grades, I'm being
responsible now, you know. And I went to all my classes, you know. I'm
taking Saturday school, I'm taking Saturday school to help me out, to
get caught up."
Psychiatrists say children as young as five are
being diagnosed with depression. The treatment options vary and experts
say Americans are slowly getting beyond the stigma of mental illness.
Professional
counseling is a key component of treating depression. For some patients
the next step is medication. "The key is to overcome the stigma," says
Dr. Joel Holiner, Executive Medical Director of Green Oaks Psychiatric
Hospital in Dallas. Dr. Holiner says there are about 25
anti-depressants on the market today. Many patients are given multiple
prescriptions, or combinations, before the desired outcome is achieved.
The
Vagus Nerve Stimulator and Electroconvulsive Therapy are treatment
options reserved for patients with chronic, severe depression.
