is not a Bad Word By Dr. Frances Liu, D.O. School bullying, social media bullying, peer pressure, pressure for scholastic achievement, and difficult family dynamics are just a few examples of what our children struggle with every day. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, in 2015, an estimated 3 million adolescents from age 12 through 17 in the United States had at least one major depressive episode in the past year—which is 12.5% of that age group. Coping with stressful situations is not part of the school curriculum. We were not taught to deal with stress as a child. 50% of depression cases in youth are missed in the doctor’s office. Every parent’s desire is to raise their children in a peaceful and safe neighborhood. Therefore, as a parent, we are not only responsible for our children’s physical health, but also their mental health. What do we do when our children face difficult situations? We bring our children to see their doctor when they are ill because we know what symptoms and signs to look for. The same should be true with mental health—we should be bringing our children to see their doctor or mental health specialist when we see signs and symptoms of depression. How do we know if our kids might be depressed? It is very easy to watch for depressed symptoms in your child: Look for a 2-week period of depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure in at least four of these settings (A, B, C, D, E): Appetite, Bed, Concentration, Death, Energy. 1) Appetite: increase or decrease in appetite with extreme weight gain or weight loss 2) Bed: sleep pattern disruption; either sleeping less or more than usual 3) Concentration: diminished ability to think or concentrate at school or at home 4) Death: recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal thoughts with or without a plan or attempt 5) Energy: fatigue or loss of energy So what should you do if you notice these symptoms in your child? Bring them to a health care provider or mental health specialist. All primary care physicians are trained to treat children with depression, so do not be afraid to bring your concerns to them. You may wonder what your doctor would do for your child with depression. There are many options in treating children and adolescents with depression. If the symptoms are mild, psychotherapy is an excellent treatment for depression. Therapists teach techniques to cope with stressful situations. According to Columbia Treatment Guidelines from 2002, more than half of youth with mild to moderate depression responded well to psychological counseling. If psychotherapy alone isn’t sufficient, medication could be prescribed by a health care provider. There are many different types of anti-depressants to choose from, and your health care provider should be able to inform you about them. Randomizedcontrol studies have shown that therapy (especially cognitive-behavioral therapy) and medication combined have the most effective response in treating children and adolescent with depression. Don’t be afraid to speak to your child about depression. There is help available, and it is a treatable illness. We can guide our children to a better future with happiness. It is possible!
About the Author Dr. Frances Liu earned her doctor of osteopathic degree at Des Moines University, Iowa and finished pediatric residency at Albany Medical Center in New York. She has practiced as a general pediatrician for four years, with special interest in pediatric mental health. She has always enjoyed working with children and adolescents, and has a passion to help those in need improve their mental health in search for better self esteem and happiness. Dr. Liu specializes in depression, anxiety, ADHD, and mood disorder. She has a: • B.S. in Microbiology at University of WI-Madison • D.O. at Des Moines University, Iowa
• Pediatric Residency at Albany Medical Center, NY • Affiliate with American Academy of Pediatrics and Utah Osteopathic Medical Association
Utah Valley Health & Wellness Magazine | July/August 2017 17