We all feel low, tired, or like we ‘can’t be bothered’ at times. When someone is depressed, this is taken more to an extreme. For example, depression refers to when these low feelings last for most of the day over a long period of time.

Often, children/young people may describe their mood as sad/flat, upset, lonely, unmotivated, and/or being irritable.

They may have poor concentration and memory, and we might notice changes in their appetite and sleep. They may spend more time alone, be in bed for longer than usual, and stop doing things they used to enjoy.

Children/young people who are low or depressed often have a critical view of themselves (e.g., ‘I am a failure’, ‘I am no good’), others (e.g., ‘No one likes me’), and the future (e.g., ‘Things will never change’).

Through psychological therapy, children/young people can be helped to talk through their feelings, and to learn to see themselves and the world in a more realistic light.

They can learn strategies to cope with their emotions and start tapping on their strengths and qualities, as they learn to become more resilient for the future.