Written by Shirley Sanguino
What could be contributing to their depression at such a young age? As someone who experienced childhood depression, I know it can be pretty difficult to feel all alone in the battle against it. I remember being told I could not have depression because I was just eleven years old, yet I felt as though I was at the bottom of a well with no way out and no one to comprehend.
Can Children Be Depressed?
Yes, children can experience depression. It isn’t just a problem for teens or adults. Children as young as preschool age can show signs of ongoing sadness, loss of interest, or withdrawal that go beyond temporary mood changes. This can happen even when there’s no apparent reason.
Depression in children may look different from how it does in adults. Some kids become quiet or withdrawn. Others act out, seem angry, or struggle with focus. These behaviors can be misinterpreted as defiance or laziness when, in fact, they’re signs of distress.
Recognizing that children can be depressed is essential. It allows adults to respond with care rather than blame. When children receive support early, they’re more likely to recover and learn skills to manage their emotions over time.
Maughan, Collishaw, and Stringaris, three researchers associated with adolescent and child psychiatry at the London Institute of Psychiatry and the Cardiff University School of Medicine, state that children are often considered too emotionally immature to experience depression. In contrast, adolescent depression is associated with mood swings typical of teenagehood (2013). However, depression is diagnosed via criteria assessed through the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, which the American Psychiatric Association publishes. These criteria include symptoms such as low self-esteem, guilt, increased or decreased appetite or sleep, and suicidal thoughts. These symptoms are assessed, considered, and applied regardless of age (Maughan, Collishaw, & Stringaris, 2013).
How Common Is Depression in Children?
According to the CDC, in 2016–2019, about 4.4% of children and adolescents aged 3–17 were diagnosed with depression. Roughly 3.4% are currently experiencing it.
For teens, depression is even more common. Surveys from 2018–2019 show:
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20.9% of adolescents aged 12–17 have had at least one major depressive episode
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15.1% experienced one in the past year
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36.7% reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness
Globally, about 21% of children and teens display symptoms ranging from mild to severe depression.
Recent data also indicate rising rates: between 2021 and 2023, nearly 20% of high school–aged teens reported depressive symptoms lasting at least two weeks.
One study finds that depression in youth is chronic and recurrent, with about 50-70% of the sample observed demonstrating another depressive episode within five years (Dunn & Goodyer, 2006, as cited in Maughan, Collishaw, & Stringaris, 2013). Furthermore, a study in various countries demonstrated that depression was prevalent among the child population. Findings showed childhood depression prevalence of 4% in Spain, 6% in Finland, 8% in Greece, 10% in Australia, and 25% in Colombia (Bernaras, Jaureguizar, & Garaigordobil, 2019).
Several factors can contribute to the development of depression in children. For example, across different developmental periods, including adults, teenagers, and children, a family history of mental health disorders and external stressful life events can accentuate the possibility of developing depression in individuals of all ages (Maughan, Collishaw, & Stringaris, 2013). Other factors exist, too. A systematic review of existing literature revealed that risk factors for children include interparental conflict, child maltreatment, parental drug use, and family violence (Lima et al., 2013).
What Causes Depression in Children?
One major cause of depression in children is adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) define ACEs as “potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood” (CDC, 2021). These traumatic experiences include childhood violence, abuse, or living in a home where mental illness or substance abuse is present. These environmental conditions can lead to not only mental health problems, but also substance use and physical health problems as well (CDC, 2021).
Childhood Domestic Violence (CDV) is one of the most prevalent ACEs, impacting up to one in four children (McCrory et. al., 2011). CDV occurs when a child grows up living in a home with domestic violence. Even when children are not the direct target of the violence, they can suffer the same effects caused by child abuse and other ACEs. For example, researchers find that children who grow up living with CDV are more likely to experience:
- Depression and sadness
- Anxiety
- Limited social and cognitive skills
- Reactive aggression
- Withdrawn behavior
- Maladaptation
- And other negative effects
Understanding that CDV and other ACEs are major causes of depression in children can help us offer better support to nurture resiliency in those impacted.
How Childhood Trauma, Including CDV, Plays a Role
Childhood trauma changes how a child feels about the world and themselves. When a child lives in a home where they witness violence between caregivers, what’s called Childhood Domestic Violence (CDV), they often feel unsafe, helpless, or invisible. Over time, these feelings can become ingrained and influence how the brain and body respond to stress.
Research shows that CDV, along with other adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), increases the risk of depression. Children exposed to violence are more likely to struggle with negative thoughts, emotional shutdown, sleep problems, and low self-worth. These aren’t just reactions in the moment. They can become long-term patterns, especially if the child doesn’t receive support.
CDV often overlaps with other risk factors like poverty, neglect, or substance abuse in the home. The more of these experiences a child faces, the more likely it is that symptoms like depression, anxiety, or chronic stress will follow.
Understanding this connection doesn’t label a child or lock in their future. It explains where some struggles originate and why early, steady support makes a significant difference. Recognizing the role of trauma helps shift the focus from blame to care.
Signs of Depression: What it Looks Like in Kids
Depression in children doesn’t always look like sadness. Many children can’t articulate what they’re feeling, and their distress manifests in behavioral, sleep, or energy changes instead. Adults may overlook the signs or confuse them with defiance, laziness, or a bad mood.
Here are common signs of depression in children:
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Ongoing irritability, frustration, or anger
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Withdrawal from family, friends, or usual activities
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Seeming tired or low-energy much of the time
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Complaints of stomachaches or headaches with no apparent cause
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Trouble sleeping or sleeping much more than usual
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Changes in appetite or weight
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Difficulty concentrating or finishing tasks
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Frequent crying or tearfulness
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Talking about feeling hopeless, worthless, or like a burden
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Saying things like “I don’t care” or “Nothing matters”
In younger children, signs may include clinginess, separation anxiety, or regressive behaviors like bedwetting or thumb sucking.
None of these symptoms alone confirms depression, but when several show up for two weeks or more and disrupt daily life, they may be cause for concern. Early support can reduce the duration of symptoms and prevent them from worsening.
How to Help Children with Depression
Although depression impacts many children, experts have found that adults can help these children develop resiliency against adversity. Resiliency is one’s ability to cope in the face of adverse circumstances.
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network reports that some of the key factors in building a child’s resiliency include:
- Receiving support from caring members of their communities
- Feeling a sense of safety in their communities
- Feeling a positive sense of self-worth
We created our 45-minute online ‘Change A Life’ program to provide you with the tools you need to help strengthen a child’s resilience amid CDV and other ACEs. This program enables you to understand what it’s like to grow up with CDV and how to step in to provide the support, safety, and feelings of self-worth a child needs.
How Adults Can Support Depressed Children Beyond Therapy
Therapy isn’t always accessible, and some children may not be ready to discuss their issues with a professional. But support doesn’t begin or end with formal treatment. What children need most is a sense of safety, consistency, and connection.
Here are practical ways adults can help:
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Keep routines steady. Predictable mealtimes, bedtimes, and daily rhythms give structure when emotions feel uncertain.
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Create space for quiet connection. Sit beside them during simple activities, such as coloring, reading, or taking a walk. Silence can be just as supportive as conversation.
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Allow them to express their emotions in nonverbal ways. Drawing, music, movement, or journaling can help a child process their feelings without needing to explain them.
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Speak calmly and clearly. Use short, honest statements like “I’m here” or “You’re not in trouble.” Avoid overexplaining or asking too many questions.
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Validate what they feel. Say things like “That sounds really hard” or “It makes sense to feel that way.”
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Offer choices. Simple decisions—such as what to wear, which book to read, or what snack to eat—help rebuild a sense of control.
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Watch for small wins. A whole night’s sleep, a finished drawing, or a short laugh all matter. Notice and name these moments.
Depression can make children feel unseen or unreachable. Steady, responsive presence often matters more than knowing exactly what to say. Being there—reliably, patiently—can begin to shift what a child believes about themselves and the world.
References
Bernaras, E., Jaureguizar, J., & Garaigordobil, M. (2019). Child and Adolescent Depression: A Review of Theories, Evaluation Instruments, Prevention Programs, and Treatments. Frontiers in Psychology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00543
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/aces/index.html#:~:text=ACEs%20can%20include%20violence%2C%20abuse,and%20substance%20misuse%20in%20adulthood.
Lima, N. N., do Nascimento, V. B., de Carvalho, S. M., de Abreu, L. C., Neto, M. L., Brasil, A. Q., Junior, F. T., de Oliveira, G. F., & Reis, A. O. (2013). Childhood depression: a systematic review. Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment, 9, 1417–1425. https://doi.org/10.2147/NDT.S42402
Maughan, B., Collishaw, S., & Stringaris, A. (2013). Depression in childhood and adolescence. Journal of the Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry = Journal de l’Academie canadienne de psychiatrie de l’enfant et de l’adolescent, 22(1), 35–40.
Eamon J. McCrory, Stéphane A. De Brito, Catherine L. Sebastian, Andrea Mechelli, Geoffrey Bird, Phillip A. Kelly, Essi Viding, Heightened neural reactivity to threat in child victims of family violence, Current Biology, Volume 21, Issue 23, 2011, Pages R947-R948, ISSN 0960-9822, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2011.10.015.