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Understanding Children and Young People’s Mental Health

Depressive behaviour is characterised by feelings of sadness, irritability, fatigue,
concentration and memory problem and an inability to sleep. It is now thought that
there are differences between the depression associated with bipolar disorder and
depression where bipolar is not involved.

In a depressive episode the person might experience:

• Deep feelings of sadness

• Decreased energy and activity

• Disturbed sleep and lack of appetite

• Thoughts of self-harm or suicide.

During a depressive episode some people can develop psychosis.

Psychosis

Psychosis can be a symptom of a serious mental illness such as bipolar disorder, but it
can also be related to substance misuse, depression and stress.

The person experiences what is known a psychotic episode when they lose touch
with reality and may hear voices and see things that aren’t there. Thoughts may be
disordered and extremely disturbing; the person cannot think straight and what they
say may not make sense to others.

This is a frightening and distressing problem that can occur after a stressful or
traumatic event, during a physical illness such as a severe infection, or as result
of the use of mind-altering substances. Some people have one episode and never
have another one but for those that do, the condition is treatable. Psychosis rarely
affects younger children.

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