Kids' depression seminar

The U.S. Surgeon General recently declared that depression in children is becoming a national crisis. Few people realize that children are just as susceptible to depression as adults. Latrobe Area Hospital and the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg are sponsoring a daylong seminar to educate people on childhood depression and the various treatment options that are available. 'Innovations in Mental Health Treatment for Children and Adolescents' will be held Wednesday in Village Hall at the UPG. The day begins at 8:30 a.m. with registration and a continental breakfast. Diane Marsh, professor of psychology at UPG, will host the seminar. A panel discussion will be held about the mental health, juvenile justice, child welfare and school systems. Small-group workshops will be featured. Penelope Frese will discuss red flags that parents can look for to determine if their child suffers from depression. Frese is the past president of the Mental Health Association of Summit County, Ohio, and currently works with the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Department of Education conducting school-based adolescent depression awareness and intervention programs. John Gavazzi, a clinical psychologist at the Milton Hershey School, will discuss child and adolescent psychopharmacology. Psychologist Marsali Hansen will discuss a multi-system approach to intervention. For additional information contact the Community Relations Department at Latrobe Area Hospital at (724) 537-1076.

As children grow, hormonal fluctuations prompt mood swings and behavioral changes. The fluctuations can mask a more serious medical condition: clinical depression. Children who are painfully shy, chronically unhappy or aggressive may be depressed. Depression can affect children of all ages, including infants. According to Diane Marsh, a professor of psychology at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, more parents are realizing that children can be depressed. 'Still too many parents and teachers are unaware that children can suffer from depression,' she said. As many as 5 percent of children and between 10 percent and 20 percent of adolescents suffer from clinical depression. According to the National Mental Health Association, 80 percent of children suffering from depression are never diagnosed. Occasionally depression may disappear after several months without treatment. But chances are the depression will return with more severe episodes. 'Depression can occur at any age,' Marsh said, 'but it may be expressed differently. For example, an infant may show sadness by being passive and unresponsive. Depressive symptoms are most likely to appear in infants whose primary caregivers are depressed themselves or are psychologically unavailable or physically abusive. A preschooler may appear withdrawn and inhibited. A school-age child may be argumentative and combative. A teen-ager may express feelings of guilt and hopelessness.' There are several warning signs of which parents should be aware. Some warning signs are easily applied to all age groups. These signs include finding little or no pleasure in life, feeling worthless or extremely guilty, crying a lot for no particular reason, withdrawing from other people, experiencing a change in eating or sleeping patterns, having very low energy, losing interest in hobbies and pleasurable activities or having suicidal thoughts or gestures. Other signs are easily attributed to a specific age group. Infants and toddlers: Too little or too much crying, excessive whining, sad or deadpan expression, little motor activity, lack of pleasure in developmentally appropriate activities, lack of social interest, failure to grow and thrive. Preschoolers: Frequent unexplained headaches, stomachaches and/or fatigue, over-activity or excessive restlessness, frequent sadness, low tolerance for frustration, irritability, lack of pleasure in previously enjoyed activities. School-age children: Frequent and unexplained headaches, stomachaches, significant weight gain or loss, feeling sad, hopeless, weepy or empty, unmerited feelings of being 'bad' or 'stupid,' changes in sleep patterns/problems with sleeping, unprovoked anger or aggression, refusal or reluctance to attend school, skipping school, dropping out of favorite activities, withdrawal, little interest in playing with others, running away. Adolescents: (The symptoms for school-age children also apply to adolescents). Sudden drop in grades or change of behavior, self-destructive behavior, including drug and alcohol use, difficulty with relationships, antisocial or delinquent behavior, inattention to appearance or grooming, risk taking behaviors with little thought of consequences, extreme sensitivity to rejection or failure, slowed physical responses or increased physical agitation, social isolation. According to Marsh, children often mask depression with other behavioral conditions. The behaviors can be anything from aggression to hyperactivity, learning problems, bed-wetting, separation anxiety, sleep problems, running away, stomachaches or substance abuse. If parents observe any of these warning signs, they should reach out to their child. 'A single warning sign should be cause for concern,' said Marsh. 'Parents might ask the child or adolescent about his or her feelings, or might consult with a teacher, guidance counselor, mental health professional or family physician.' Treatment is available through individual or family counseling. If the condition is severe, medication may be prescribed.

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