Note: None of the information you find on this site about depression should take the place of a medical evaluation. People suffering from depression need to see a doctor and may need medical treatment.

According to latest research depression is due to a chemical imbalance, in the brain. It is similar to diabetes in many ways. It needs to be diagnosed and treated as early as possible. Most of the time it is treatable. Statistics indicate that more and more people are overcoming depression because they are being treated by qualified doctors. Still many people do not seek treatment because of many reasons. They do not realize how common this disease has become. Following are some startling statistics about depression. Further down the page are symptoms parents should be looking for. If you feel that your child has some of these symptoms, don't hesitate taking your child to a doctor.

• Approximately 3% of Americans-some 19 million suffer from chronic depression.
• Two million of the sufferers are children.
• Depression is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. and abroad for persons over the age of 5.
• Incidents of depression are increasing across the developed world, particulary in children.
• 15% of depressed people will eventually commit suicide that have the extreme form of depression.
• 2-4% of mildly depressed people will eventually commit suicide.

Depression Symptoms in Infants
· Unresponsive when talked to or touched, never smile or cry or may cry often and be difficult to soothe.
· Failure to gain weight (not due to other medical illnesses).
· Unmotivated in play
· Restless, overly sensitive to noise or touch.
· Problems with eating or sleeping.
· Digestive disorders (constipation or diarrhea).

Depression Symptoms in Children
· Persistent unhappiness, negativity, complaining, chronic boredom, lack of initiative.
· Uncontrollable anger with aggressive or destructive behavior, possibly hitting themselves or others, kicking, or self-biting, head banging.
· Harming animals.
· Continual disobedience.
· Easily frustrated, frequent crying, overly sensitive.
· Low self-esteem, regularly self-critical
· Inability to pay attention, remember, or make decisions; easily distracted; mind goes blank.
· Energy fluctuations from lethargic to frenzied activity, with periods of normalcy.
· Eating or sleeping problems.
· Bedwetting, constipation, diarrhea.
· Chronic worry and fear, clingingness and panic attacks; extreme self-consciousness.
· Slowed speech and body movement.
· Disorganized speech - hard to follow when telling a story etc.
· Physical symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, stomachaches, arm and/or leg aches (without other medical causes), nail biting, pulling out hair or eyelashes.
· Suicidal talk or attempts.
In children, depressive illnesses or anxiety may be disguised as, or presented as, school phobia or school avoidance, excessive separation anxiety, running away, obsessions, compulsions, or everyday rituals, such as having to go to bed at exactly the same time each night for fear something bad might happen otherwise. Chronic illnesses may also be present since depression weakens the immune system.

Depression Symptoms in Adolescents
· Physical symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, stomachaches, muscle tension in arms, legs and/or neck, digestive disorders (without other medical causes).
· Persistent unhappiness negativity, irritability.
· Uncontrollable anger or outbursts of rage.
· Overly self-critical unwarranted guilt, Iow self-esteem.
· Inability to concentrate, think straight, remember, or make decisions which could result in a refusal to study, do homework or an inability to do schoolwork.
· Slowed or hesitant speech or body movements, or restlessness (anxiety).
· Loss of interest in once pleasurable activities.
· Low energy, chronic fatigue, sluggishness, excessive, sleeping or other abnormal sleeping patterns (i.e. not sleeping at all).
· Change in appetite, noticeable weight loss or weight gain, abnormal eating patterns.
· Chronic worry excessive fear.
· Preoccupation with death themes in literature, music, drawings; speaking of death repeatedly; fascination with guns and knives.
· Self cutting (or other self-injurious behavior).
· Suicidal thoughts, plans or attempts.

Depressive illnesses/anxiety may be disguised as, presented as or accompanied by, eating disorders (such as anorexia or bulimia); drug/alcohol abuse; sexual promiscuity; and risk-taking behavior such as reckless driving, unprotected sex, carelessness when walking across busy streets, or on bridges or cliffs. Adolescents may also isolate themselves socially, run away, constantly disobey, get in trouble with the law, commit physical or sexual assaults against others, behave obnoxiously, stop caring about their appearance/hygiene, exhibit no sense of morals or values, have difficulty cultivating or maintaining relationships, and be unable to establish or stick with occupational or educational goals.