FINDING PROFESSIONAL HELP
If this is an emergency -
If you believe your child is suffering from depression, the first thing you should do is ask yourself the question: is there any reason to think this is an emergency? Is your child in imminent danger of hurting him- or herself or another person? If so, you may need to consider immediate hospitalization. At the very least, you should call your child's pediatrician (or therapist if he or she already has one).
If you believe an immediate trip to the hospital is necessary -
- on Chicago's North Shore, click here.
- Outside the North Shore, contact 1-800-273-TALK for the nearest facility.
If this is not an emergency -
If you suspect your child may be suffering with depression or another mental disorder, you should begin by seeing your child's pediatrician. Some illnesses, like diabetes or thyroid disease, can act like depression and your pediatrician needs to rule these things out.
If the pediatrician believes there may be depression or a similar illness, he or she might recommend further consultation with a mental health professional, or he or she might prescribe medication for your child. We recommend the former—getting a mental health assessment from a mental health professional. An accurate diagnosis from someone with special training the field of mental health is the key to getting the right treatment.
It's a really good idea to begin keeping a journal of what's happening with your child. Record dates, times, behaviors, moods, everything you can think of. Journal every day and continue your journal through the end of your child's treatment. Your journal will be an invaluable tool as you go through the process of diagnosis and treatment.
If you think your child has depression, don't hesitate—your instinct that there is something amiss is probably the best indicator that you need to follow up. Also, don't feel guilty (though admittedly this is easier said than done)—you are not the cause of your child's illness.
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