Hope For Children And Families

WETHERSFIELD — The Mental Health Association of Connecticut and a host of other organizations are sponsoring Child and Adolescent Depression Awareness Week, May 8 through 12. The purpose of the public education effort is to increase awareness of the signs and symptoms of child and adolescent depression, and inform the community about resources available to help youths and their families.

Child and adolescent depression affects two to three million young people a year. Major depression is more than just the blues. It is a serious illness with serious consequences. Youths with depression experience persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness and increased irritability. They may withdraw from friends and family and lose interest in activities they once enjoyed. There may be major changes in their eating and sleeping patterns. Some may perform poorly in school, use alcohol and drugs, or contemplate taking their own lives.

Some youths may also have cycles in their moods, first experiencing depression and then periods of extreme irritability, and need little sleep. They can be unpredictable, impulsive, and explosive at times. This cycling is called bipolar depression.

The good news is that depression is treatable and early diagnosis and treatment can reduce the severity of the illness and minimize social and academic problems.

Many libraries will display books about child and adolescent depression and share bibliographies with children and families.

For resources and referrals, please call Infoline at 211 or the Mental Health Association of CT at 800/842-1501, extension 15. “Child and Adolescent Depression” information packets are available through the Mental Health Association.