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Depression in children and young people
What are the causes?
Depression usually has multiple causes. Most episodes of depression arise in young people where there is a background of longstanding psychosocial difficulties, for example, family disharmony, divorce, separation, domestic violence, child abuse, and school difficulties such as bullying academic problems and/or isolation. The majority of episodes of depression also occur acutely after a life event such as the breakdown of an important relationship.
One way to make sense of the different theories of causation is to think of children and young people as being made more vulnerable to depression because of genetic and biological factors, and early adverse experiences and then having their depression 'triggered' by a combination of current social circumstances and adverse life events. Possible biological factors include changes in monoamine transmitter levels in the brain and also changes in cortisol metabolism.
What are the symptoms?
| How is it diagnosed? 
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