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Understanding Children and Young People’s Mental Health

Key Fact

‘Mood swings are a completely normal part of puberty. You may feel
on top of the world one minute and really grumpy the next. Most
people experience this when they’re going through puberty. It’s
usually something you will grow out of.’

Source: www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/you-your-body/puberty/
puberty-myths

Examples of how depression may affect children and
young people

The effects of depression on children and young people can be far reaching and
significant, and the longer the illness continues without support and treatment, the
worse the impact becomes. It can easily remain undetected due to the variations in,
and lack of, recognition of symptoms.

The illness is associated with relationship problems, poor performance at school,
sometimes substance misuse, and in its extreme form, suicidal thoughts,
self-harming and attempts at suicide.

A depressed child or young person may show some or all of the following changes
in their behaviours:

• A loss of appetite or a tendency to overeat

• A lack of interest in the activities and social events the child had
previously enjoyed

• Disturbed sleep patterns and sleeping too much
• Constant tiredness and exhaustion

• Problems concentrating on school work and activities at home
• Expressing feelings of guilt for no reason

• The desire to harm themselves
• Lacking in self-confidence.

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