Between 1 and 3 per cent of primary school-aged children and about 5 per cent of teens suffer from depression, yet their parents are often totally unaware of it.

Symptoms of child and adolescent depression can vary in severity and duration and may be quite different from those in adults. Diagnosing depression in childhood can be difficult because kids can't always articulate their feelings or even act "depressed". Sometimes, they may feel miserable and not know why. While adults may feel sad or withdrawn when they have depression, children often appear more irritable.

Signs of depression in your child include:

• Problems with authority and overreaction to criticism
• Withdrawal from friends and activities
• Anger and rage
• Missed school or poor school performance
• Changes in eating and sleeping habits
• Indecision, lack of concentration, or forgetfulness
• Poor self-esteem or guilt
• Frequent physical complaints, such as headaches and stomach aches
• Lack of enthusiasm, low energy or motivation
• Drug and/or alcohol abuse
• Thoughts of death or suicide

Depression plays a significant role in childhood and adolescent suicide so it is important for you to pay close attention to how your child acts. Any talk of suicide should be taken very seriously, especially if your child is giving away personal possessions and changing long time habits.

Discuss depression and suicide openly, pointing out the range of resources available to help. Don't give up if your child or teenager becomes aggressive or even more secretive – approach a support group, doctor or counsellor for advice on dealing with this behaviour.

It's also essential to get a proper diagnosis from a trained psychiatrist or psychologist to rule out other explanations, such as school phobia, anxiety disorders and - less commonly - attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD, a complex learning disorder).

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