Colman Noctor: Depression often goes undiagnosed in children
Most children who experience depression try to continue functioning in their daily activities as best they can
There is a risk of dismissing depressive symptoms — such as unhappiness, sadness, moodiness, irritability, emptiness or tearfulness — as merely ‘typical adolescent behaviours’. Picture: iStock
In Ireland, we have had many vague descriptions of mental health problems ranging from someone who ‘suffers from their nerves’ to those who ‘take to the bed’. It is surprising how little is known about depression, as it is one of the most common psychological disorders people experience. Depression is associated with functional impairment, morbidity and mortality and is a significant public health problem.
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