Here are some things to keep in mind when you are in the process of having your child diagnosed and treated for depression:
1. Realize that there are no short cuts to successful depression treatment. It can, unfortunately, be a very complicated process. You know how hard it can be for a pediatrican to figure out what antibiotic will clear up your child's recurring ear infections? Finding the right treatment for depression is potentially ten times more complex.
The reason I'm bringing this up is because some doctors, especially those who don't have a lot of experience treating mental illness in children, will be convinced that they can hand you a prescription for antidepressants and that will take care of your child's depression. Believe me, I've seen it first hand. But it is rarely that simple.
2. Your child should be diagnosed and treated by a psychiatrist, preferably a child psychiatrist. Fifteen minutes with your general practitioner or your child's pediatrician doesn't cut it. Even if you have to drive a few hours to see a qualified child psychiatrist, it's worth doing so for the initial diagnosis, at least. Diagnosing mental illness in adults is tough enough; children not only exhibit depression differently, but they are also less able to communicate their symptoms clearly. Someone who is trained and experienced in treating mental illness in children is more likely to diagnose your child correctly.
"...the rule is caution in prescribing antidepressants for children. They should be neither a first choice nor a last resort." - Harvard Health Letter: Should Children Take Antidepressants?
3. In general, medication should not be the first treatment choice for a child with depression, except perhaps in severe cases.
Don't discount psychotherapy or cognitive therapy as primary treatment options. Even though it's impossible to say for sure, I'm fairly certain that in my case, psychotherapy would have been very successful in my case. My depression was probably due to the loss of my father when my parents divorced. Therapy could have helped me work through that and very possibly prevent my depression.
4. Talk to your child about suicidal thoughts. Bring it out into the open. Don't let it be taboo. Let your child know that it's okay to express these thoughts and feelings. This might be the only way you have to know if he or she is considering suicide. You can't deal with it if you don't know about it.
It is very scary when there are no cut and dried answers for treating your child. It makes you feel helpless. But knowing as much as possible about treatment options will help you to make the best decision possible.
Links
Antidepressants for Children: The Pros and Cons
Antidepressant Medications for Children and Adolescents: Information for Parents and Caregivers
Did an effort to reduce teen suicide backfire?
Books
Medicating Young Minds: How to Know if Psychiatric Drugs Will Help or Hurt Your Child
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