• S1E5: Depression in children

  • May 22 2024
  • Length: 30 mins
  • Podcast

S1E5: Depression in children

Listen for free

View show details

  • Summary

  • In episode 5, Dr. Caudill covers the challenging topic of depression in children. This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment. Resources like www.psychologytoday.com can help you find local mental health providers if you or your child are in need of personalized care. If you haven't already, please join The Empowered Parent book club, where Dr. Caudill presents a book related to parenting each month. It's FREE! If you are on the list you'll get invited to the video summary and an actionable PDF for your review. You can sign up here. Dr. Caudill highlights that 1 in 7 teens will experience major depressive disorder, which can manifest in various ways, but which requires mood symptoms of persistent sadness or irritability most of the time for over two weeks. Additional symptoms may include changes in sleep and appetite, decreased interest in activities, excessive guilt, difficulty concentrating, low energy, and suicidal thoughts. She provides examples of different depression presentations to illustrate how symptoms can vary significantly between two people with depression. Depression treatment starts with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). To be effective, this must be complemented by good nutrition, regular exercise, consistent sleep, and supportive social interactions. If therapy alone is insufficient or if the child is at risk for self harm, a medical evaluation by a psychiatrist is indicated and medications could be considered. Parents should support their child’s treatment by ensuring medication adherence and encouraging their child to engage in healthy habits. For more info about medications used to treat depression, please check out Dr. Caudill's YouTube video here. Dr. Caudill discusses environmental factors contributing to depression, such as genetics, substance use, bullying, academic pressure, and social media. Limiting phone and social media use, especially for children under 15, can be beneficial. Protective factors include a spiritual connection and a supportive environment. She advises that therapy for depression typically takes 4+ months to show significant improvement, while medications may take 6-8 weeks. Often, the first medication tried will not work, and a second or third medication trial has to be initiated. Dr. Caudill shares family relational patterns she has observed in her years working with children exhibiting depression symptoms. Dr. Caudill also addresses the serious concern of suicide, and that parents can minimize risk by reducing access to lethal means, including firearms, medications, sharps (razors, etc) and things that could be used for suffocation (belts, etc) in kids at risk. She discusses racial differences in suicide risk in teens, as well as at risk groups including LGBTQ+ kids, regardless of race. She encourages parents to share crisis resources like the 988 crisis line and the 741741 crisis text line with their children and to foster open conversations about mental health. Finally, Dr. Caudill invites listeners to share their experiences with a child’s depression in a future episode by emailing her at hello@theparentdoctor.com. Next week's topic will be autism spectrum disorder. Tune in to the Parent Doctor Podcast for insightful discussions and practical advice on supporting your child’s mental health. RESOURCES: A free assessment for depression in kids ages 11-17 can be found here. A tool for younger kids is called the CES-DC and can be found here. A medication lockbox should be a part of every household with children, such as this one. Be sure to lock up: acetaminophen (Tylenol), aspirin, cold medications, pain killers/narcotics, anxiety medication, and sleeping pills. AACAP Facts for Families about depression can be found here. AACAP medication resources can be found here. Trans Lifeline - call 877-565-8860Trevor Project (LGBTQ+) - call 866-488-7386, chat online, or text “START” to 678-678
    Show more Show less
activate_primeday_promo_in_buybox_DT
Children's Audiobooks Parenting & Families Relationships
Show more Show less

What listeners say about S1E5: Depression in children

Average customer ratings

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Audible.com reviews

Amazon reviews
No Reviews are Available