“Please just make the sad go away.”  – Kara S. (11 years old)

Depression is a very significant problem.  The disorder, which is estimated to affect approximately 7 percent of the U.S. population, makes it extremely difficult to handle the daily tasks of life including work and school.  Unlike adults, children are often unable to express in words when they are feeling sad and anxious.  Instead, children are more likely to show their feelings through their behavior.  Childhood depression is not the same as the normal occasional blues and everyday emotions that occur as children develop.  Just because a child appears sad or depressed does not mean they are experiencing the medical condition of depression.  However, if these symptoms persist and end up disrupting and interfering with social activities, interests, schoolwork and family life, that child may very well be suffering from depression.  Although the specific cause of depression is yet unknown, medical experts believe it is due to a chemical imbalance in the brain.  Medical conditions, alcohol or drug abuse, sleep difficulties, social isolation, heredity, and certain medication side effects have all been implicated as contributing factors.

Ben’s Story

Ben is an eight year-old boy from a hard-working middle-class family from northern Santa Barbara County.  He was a very good student and had always played well with kids at school without any history of problems or difficulties.  That is until about eighteen months ago when he began fighting with other children, not doing his homework or chores, and talking back to his teachers.  Ben’s parents were at a loss to explain why he was misbehaving and brought him to see me for an assessment.  Ben’s family, friends and teachers all observed this “challenging” behavior, but his actions, as it turned out, were really symptoms of depression.  In talking with Ben I learned that he was worried about his younger sister’s upcoming surgery for repair of a cleft palate, mourning the recent death of his beloved pet dog, and approaching the anniversary of his grandfather’s death, a much-missed figure in Ben’s life.  Often when children act out, they are expressing feelings of anxiety, fear or loss they cannot process verbally or intellectually as an adult would.  Acting out is especially common for boys, while girls are more likely to withdraw socially.  Ben received individualized treatment as well as family counseling to help process the emotional issues affecting him and his whole family.  By seeking help early his parents helped prevent Ben from developing more serious and long-term depression.

Signs of Depression in Children 

Here are some possible signs of depression in children that parents and teachers can look for:

• Pretending to be sick or refusing to go to school
• Clinging to a parent or worrying a parent may die
• Dramatic change in appetite, often associated with weight gain or loss
• Showing irritable or agitated/aggressive behavior
• Increased sensitivity to rejection
• Extreme difficulty concentrating
• Performing poorly in school
• Changing sleep habits – sleeping a lot more or unable to sleep
• Feeling tired all of the time
• Not doing activities previously enjoyed
• Wanting to be left alone often
• Using drugs or alcohol (more common with teens)
• Thoughts of death or suicide

It can be difficult to tell whether these behaviors are depression or a “phase” a child is going through. If a visit to a pediatrician has ruled out physical problems, parents or involved professional should consider contacting a mental health specialist for an evaluation.  For over 100 years the Family Service Agency has been serving children in our community.  They can be reached at:

Santa Barbara:   (805) 965-1001

Lompoc:   (805) 735-4376

Santa Maria:   (805) 925-1100