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Understanding Children and Young People’s Mental Health

Depression can also run in families, so if one parent experiences depression or
another mood disorder such as bipolar, it may be more likely that the children inherit
this predisposition towards developing depression. When stressful and traumatic life
events occur, this makes depression even more likely to develop.

Depression in children and young people often occurs in association with other
mental health conditions such as anxiety, an eating disorder or behavioural disorders
such as ADHD.

It is also more common in particular settings for children and young people including:

• Looked after children (children who are in care)

• Children and young people within the criminal justice system

• Refugees and asylum seekers

• Children who have experienced trauma of some kind

• Children and young people with drug and alcohol problems.

Key Fact

There is no single cause of depression. It is caused by a mixture of
things rather than any one factor alone.

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